A friend of ours recently shared this link about her sister’s family. Take a look and see how blending biological and adoptive children is possible – and even how adopting a group of siblings is possible. And, not just possible, but wonderful!
http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/news/finding_family/110623-adopting-siblings
This is a re-post from Proverbs 31 Ministries – could not help but pass it along as I sit here @ 11:30pm (yes, that is LATE for ME!) with “stuff” on my mind. God is good and bigger than all my anxious toil. AMEN!!!! I think I will go to bed now, sweet dreams everyone!
Encouragement for Today From Proverbs 31 Ministries
Daily Devotions for Women
February 11, 2011
Sweet Dreams
Karen Ehman
“It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.”
Psalm 127:2 (ESV)
I restlessly rolled over and squinted sleepily trying to focus my eyes on the bright blue digits still taunting me in the night. The alarm clock on my dresser flashed the awful news:
3:18 AM. Ughhhh!
I had crawled into bed nearly four hours earlier, eager to rejuvenate my body with a sound night’s sleep. My ever-full schedule as a wife, mother, daughter, volunteer, neighbor, friend and part-time work-at-home woman had me worn and weary. Not only was my body tired, but my brain raced as well.
Random thoughts strung together like an annoying necklace of woes: Would my latest project be done in time? Is my adult daughter doing okay in her new job and living situation? Is my elderly mom going to slip and fall on the ice in this nasty winter weather? Did I offend my friend when she’d asked for my honest opinion about her child-rearing decision? Are my sons making wise choices when it comes to their peer groups? Would I gain back the twenty pounds I’d just lost…..for the third time?
And then…the dreaded “what ifs.” What if the young mom in my Bible study discovers her husband is having an affair just as she suspects? What if my high school son with special needs doesn’t do well on his ACT exam next year? What if my friends lose their home to foreclosure? What if my sister-in-law’s ex-husband threatens her again…or worse?
And so I tossed and turned; and tried to no avail to induce sweet slumber that would whisk me away from all of my fears, both real and imagined.
Finally giving up, I dragged my flannel-clad self into the kitchen to heat some boiling water in my kettle and steep a bag of chamomile tea. I hoped it might do the trick.
» Read more: For every mamma out there losing sleep, this is for you!
2 Chronicles 20:17 “You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.”
It is 11:30 at night. The house is quiet and slightly aglow with Christmas lights. It is WAY past my bed time! So what keeps me up this late? First, it was restlessness in my legs (so I thought) and the cure was some Advil and an ABC family movie (again, so I thought). After the movie I was glancing around Facebook (yes I am addicted and need help!) and as I was looking at some pictures I had posted of my girls playing the snow I became overwhelmed at God’s goodness and blessing in my life. Not simply because I have two amazing daughters, a husband (and incredible father) who cherishes me and them, but because I have a Savior who loves me more than I love my husband and daughters, and more than they love me… how mind boggling is THAT!
As I pondered all this I was brought to tears that I have lost sight of HIM during this season. It’s as if along with the lights, the glitter, the glow and the gatherings of the season my brain was hijacked into “mission mode” as I call it and the mission was …GETTING THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS!!!!
How sad is that. I know it is not Jesus’ actual birthday on December 25th (sorry if I just burst anyone’s bubble) yet this is a special time, not the ONLY time, to reflect on our Savior’s birth and all that it meant. This has brought me to 2 Chronicles 20:17, a verse that stops me in my tracks. This verse describes a paricular battle with an odd strategy – prepare to fight but let someone else do the actual fighting. It says “stand firm, hold your position and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf.”
JINGLE BELLS! In the quiet of this night, it dawned on me how God calls us to prepare for battle but reminds us it is not up to us to FIGHT every battle. Sometimes God calls us to “see the salvation of the Lord on [our] behalf” or as I like to think of it, “watch God do HIS thing!”
I don’t know about you but so much of my time, I am realizing, is wasted on fighting battles God has not asked me to fight – battles too numerous to name so I won’t even try. It is no wonder I feel drained, complacent, and detached – I am squandering my energy fighting battles that are not mine to fight instead of simply standing firm and holding my position of faith and trust in God.
This season, I have been choosing to fight the battle of checking off my holiday list and it’s not a battle God has called me to fight. During the special time of year, as with most of our year, God is asking me to focus on understanding more about him and how I can alter my life to be filled more by him, but the chaos once again distracted me.
Don’t think though that God has trained us to sit on the sidelines and watch while he does the work in all the battles of life. OH NO, there are battles out there for us to take on (some hand-to-hand combat, no doubt). But, I would dare say that all too often we get “trigger happy” and leap right into a battle without asking God if it is one HE has called us to fight.
My prayer is that you will seek God in the daily challenges of life, whether mundain or monumental. Maybe He is asking you to jump in there with both hands or maybe He wants you prepare for a battle but trust Him enough to rest in Him and watch Him win the battle and glorify Himself in your life.
Copyright United Feature Syndicate, Inc.
1 Kings 3:9 “So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
I know it has been a while since I actually blogged but I’m on a “scheduling” kick and set aside some time to ponder and write out what God has been speaking to me lately. Going to be honest, it has been a WILD few weeks, and I still feel like my head is spinning (hence the feeble human attempt at control by trying to “schedule” my time with 2 pre-schoolers, I’ll keep you posted on how long THAT last!). As I was looking back on passages I had read one came to mind that I hadn’t even marked, 1 Kings 3:9.
Next week, GodSpotters will be on location for the cause of adoption!
Wednesday, Oct. 27-Oct. 31, AnchorSoul @ Faith Baptist Church, Youngsville, NC.
Faith Baptist Church holds an annual walk-through drama of over 100 cast members the week before Halloween. This year, it is “The War of Realms” and is tagged, “A Haunted House Alternative Where Reality Is More Riveting Than Fantasy… ” Why is GodSpotters part of the free event? One of the goals in this year’s drama is to raise awareness of opportunities for adoption and fostering. We’ll be promoting domestic adoption, while other teams will present information on international adoption and fostering. JOIN US! Visit http://www.faithnc.org and click the AnchorSoul banner, or select AnchorSoul from the Engage menu.
Thursday, Oct. 28, Amazing Grace Adoptions Fundraising Banquet, Raleigh, NC.
We’ll be taking a break from AnchorSoul for one night to join with our friends at Amazing Grace Adoptions to not only raise awareness for adoption, but for the need for people to support local adoption agencies. AGA is located in Raleigh, NC, but promotes adoption all over the world. They serve both domestic and international adoption needs, and have a full staff of loving individuals. The event starts at 6:30 and will be held at the Courtyard Raleigh-Crabtree Valley.
For more information on either of these events, just leave a comment – and we’ll get in touch! You can also email us through our Contact Us page.
Once in a while, there’s a song that just stirs our hearts. Sometimes it’s for love, God, or just simply living life. Here’s a song that we’re hoping helps you hear our heart for our families. We hope you enjoy! Leave a comment about how much you want God to lead you in your family and life.
OK well first of all for my family who knows I am directionally challenged the title is for you! This past month I have come to the realization that I am a wife and mother of two beautiful girls… alright you say, I thought that was a given. It SHOULD have been but apparently I was slow to pick up on the fact that there are things that EMILY is having to put on hold for a while as I focus on the ministry of FAMILY. Not suggesting we are going to become hermits and drop off the face of the earth but I am constantly asking the question, “is this best for my marriage and family?” This is where I am at. I cannot build my home business right now, I cannot train for a 1/2 marathon as I was hoping, but what I can do is draw closer to my Lord, serve my children and husband, and Love on those God brings across my path.
Here is my encouragement for anyone who is reading this, ask yourself, “Where am I?” What season has God brought to you in your life right now, and RELISH in it, some may be easier or harder to relish in but seek HIM where you are and drink up every moment of where you are even if it’s between a rock and a hard place! I’m not saying you will go around with a goofy grin on your face if you have faced job loss, a difficult health diagnosis or the passing of a loved one but soak up Christ in the midst of it.
Now I am preaching this to myself, just so you know. Staying home with a 2 children under the age of 3 is sometimes like herding cats (just tried to take a “stroll” with them around our neighborhood – yeah that was fun!). So I often find myself forgetting to BREATHE and adjust to focus and remember where I am. I am in the middle of God’s plan for my life! Wherever you are search for Christ and cling to Him!
OK. So I apologize for the lack of a “real” post; my eldest daughter decided I did not need more than 3-4 hours sleep last night. But, I came across this at my favorite place of encouragement aside from God’s word (http://lysaterkeurst.com). Lysa Terkeurst is co-founder of Proverbs 31 Ministries (www.proverbs31.org) - an amazing organization, and I highly encourage you to support them any way you can. You can purchase some incredible materials/books through their website, and it all goes to support the ministry. Check out the links, say a little prayer for my sanity today, and if you are in the Raleigh area and notice a shortage of coffee, it’s because I’m drinking it all! LOL!
So here is a silly but wonderful story about God’s provision. Our family enjoys grocery shopping together, and with the help of all the fun carts for kids these days and our girls being a little older they even seem to have a good time (mostly). After Michael got off work a few weeks ago we piled everyone in the car, finalized our list and headed out on our family outing! We successfully completed our mission without much ado from our darling daughters and happily made our way to the checkout counter (WOOOHOOO!)
We had noticed the dark clouds as we came in to the store but didn’t think much of it. But, on our way to check-out God showed off His power over nature and let loose a HUGE thunderstorm. As our cashier was scanning our items we were discussing the pros and cons of hanging out in the store a little longer, just to see if the storm would pass.
Do you attend a church in Wake County? Are you interested in learning more about adoption? We would be interested in coming to speak! Contact us today! We can help with a Sunday morning service, an evening service, a seminar, even a meeting with your leaders!
