Prayer as we await the arrival of Nadiya

Dear Father in Heaven, who loves me so dearly, who sent His own son to pay for my sin, dear Father, dear Savior, dear Sovereign Lord, You are awesome in power, holy and just. And You listen to me, a tiny little speck, as I come to You in prayer. This next week is going to have so much in store. I’m ready yet wondering so many things. Will she like us? Will we like her? Will we love her right away? Will she feel like my daughter if but for five weeks? Will we even be able to talk to each other? Will we see Your power mighty to break through barriers of language and culture? Will saying goodbye be the hardest thing I have ever done? I pray for her heart, Lord. I pray that You are already drawing her to You. I pray for Your Spirit to overwhelm us. I pray that you drown Tony and me in Your love that it will overflow to all of those around us. I am so excited to see You at work! Please bring Nadiya safely to us. Our hope is in You for what You have in store. How awesome that we get to be part of Your plan, not just watch as Your sovereign story unfolds, but be involved, feel You all around us as what You planned before the foundation of the earth plays out for all to see. I know it is all for Your glory, every moment in life, and I praise You because You are worthy of praise! May this trip be for her, to teach her of Your love, to show her true hope, to know she is wanted. May it be for my family, to show us more of Your love, more about hope, about wanting what You want, to show us what really matters in life, to focus on the eternal, to love with Your love, and to serve as unto You. May it also be for those around us, our friends and church family, may we be an example to care for the orphan, to open our homes to the strangers, to love the unwanted. Unwanted, it was hard to type that word, to imagine how many children are out there, unwanted by the world. This should not be! Oh, the joy that fills my soul to know that I was wanted by the Creator of all the world, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, so wanted that death of the innocent, pure, holy Prince was paid on my behalf. Oh Lord, continue to soften my heart for this group that are unwanted by the world but should never be unwanted by Your church. Again, may we want what You want, may we focus on the eternal. All praise is due You for our are the One and Only! Thank you for listening to my prayer and knowing my heart. Thank You for the mighty things You will do this summer in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.

What are you thinking about?

I can choose to think about the acts of a selfish will and the struggles to be in control…

Or the seven-year-old heart that desires not much more than to be close to his momma.

I can choose to think about the breakdowns, the screaming fits…

Or the sweet prayers throughout the day by my four-year-old daughter.

I can choose to think about the tantrums, the mischief…

Or the sweet looks from that face that echoes my husband and I like no other.

I can choose to spend all my time trying desperately to make my children good in the eyes of the world…

Or I can bask in the grace of my loving Savior, the only one ever good, and share His grace with them.

I can make lots of rules, demand perfection, and leave no room for mistakes…

Or I can think about my Savior as I teach my children to taste and see that He is good.

I can angrily feel defeated each and every day as I am powerless to do what only God can do…

Or I can live out the gospel as I discipline in love and share the joy of being a child of the King.

By His power I can choose to think about whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable— anything that is excellent or praiseworthy—I can think about such things.

And I can praise Him for His goodness and His grace.

Waiting to meet you

Waiting to meet you,

Longing to know you,

Wondering what God has in store.

Eager to hug you,

Ready to love you,

Wondering what God has in store.

And my Hope is in Him

As I think of you.

My hope lies in Him.

As I trust in Him for you.

~thinking of my host child, eager to see God work in her life.

Good Friday, Good Savior, Good God

Good Friday, Good Savior, Good God:
The only hope for mankind.
For there is no one good but One,
And He took the place of many.
He suffered and died in our place
For the price for our sin to be paid.
Our good God could not let us free
Without the payment due.
We think of His wounds and His bruises.
We cry at the thought of His pain,
But do we realize the pain
Of all of God's wrath for our sin?
We cannot even imagine
What He took when He took on our sin.
He is God and He lowered Himself to man,
He took the place of wretched sinners,
And God laid on Him all our filth,
Our filth laid on God's perfect Son,
Our wretched sin placed on Him
That when God looks at us,
He sees His perfect Son.
Oh how He loves you and me.
We are His people,
Bought at a very high price.
He paid the price that was death,
But He didn't stay dead
For He's risen; praise God, He's alive!
And that is very good news.

~Has God revealed to you where you stand before Him? Has He saved your soul by taking your place? Praise God for His grace! If you have never repented (turned away from doing wrong and turned to God to save you from a life of sin) and believed (fully trusted your life to Jesus), cry to Him for forgiveness, ask Him to take over, thank Him for His indescribable gift.

When One of God's Goes Home

Sickness is a part of life,
This fallen world we live in,
But Heaven's on the other side
Where everything is well,
So much more than well.

It's where we praise Jesus
It's where we fall at His feet.
It's where we'll always praise Jesus,
The greatest place to be.

One day I'll see Him face to face,
The one who died for me.
Oh how I long for that embrace,
The way it's supposed to be,
And for eternity.

It's where we praise Jesus
It's where we fall at His feet.
It's where we'll always praise Jesus,
The greatest place to be.

When one of God's goes home,
It's a time to rejoice.
When He calls His children home,
What a time of joy,
A time of endless joy.

It's where we praise Jesus
It's where we fall at His feet.
It's where we'll always praise Jesus,
The greatest place to be,
And for eternity,
Praise eternally.

Reflection on Philippians 1

Yes, we are servants, slaves to the Christ.
He calls us saints, "Holy" is our cry.
Grace be to you, peace be to you.
Please pray for me, and I'll pray for you.
Together for this gospel of truth,
Let's stay united in all we do.
In everything, let us rejoice;
He has a plan, and it's for His glory.
Let us live our lives for Christ,
Make them count, do what's right.
Things might be hard, but don't lose hope
It's in His hands, yes, this we know.

Praise Him in That

When all seems to be right,
And I just want to smile,
I will praise Him in that.
I will praise Him in that.
When I've had a bad day,
And it brings me to the Psalms,
I will praise Him in that.
I will praise Him in that.
When it's all so confusing
And I search the Holy Word,
I will praise Him in that.
I will praise Him in that.

In all things, however they seem,
Give praise to the Lord.
Yes, praise His Holy Name.

When the pictures jump out
In the that old precious Book,
I will praise Him in that.
I will praise Him in that.
As He shows me His love
Eternal and true,
I will praise Him in that.
I will praise Him in that.
When I just can't make sense
And I see how big He is,
I will praise Him in that.
I will praise Him in that.

In all things, however they seem,
Give praise to the Lord.
Yes, praise His Holy Name.

As I care for my home,
Cook and clean and again,
I will praise Him in that.
I will praise Him in that.
As I hold a dear child,
Run my hands through their hair,
I will praise Him in that.
I will praise Him in that.
As I ponder the blessings,
What He gave and He took,
I will praise Him in that.
I will praise Him in that.

In all things, however they seem,
Give praise to the Lord.
Yes, praise His Holy Name.
Praise Him in that, yes everything.

~This started coming to me this morning as I was doing the dishes, praising him in that. I had to stop and write this. May He open your eyes to everything being for His glory. That is worthy of praise!