Born Into Heaven

Born into heaven

But made a difference on Earth.

Isn’t it amazing

How God works?

We hurt and we cry.

We mourn that he died,

But isn’t it amazing

How God works?

God knit him together

In His mother’s womb.

He made him special

So glory he’d bring.

Glory, glory,

It’s all for God’s glory.

Isn’t it amazing

How God works?

Joshua means

That God saves,

And He’s still in the saving business.

And by God’s grace

Joshua now brings Him praise

As he stands at the throne of the Savior.

And souls here on Earth

Are turned toward the Lord

All because of a baby.

Isn’t it amazing

How God works?

Praise You

Praise You.
I will praise You.
When it all falls apart,
I will praise You.
Some days look
A lot better than others.
Some days feel
A lot nicer.
I like to see You
In the smiles and the laughter,
But sometimes You shine
Through the tears.
Let me see You.
Let me see You in this.
When it all falls apart,
Let me see You.
And I'll praise You.
I will praise You through this.
Please hold me so close
that I'll praise You.

Hope

My Hope would be five now if born when expected, but my baby was born into Heaven instead.

The Hope known as Nadiya has made a place in my heart, but the day that we part is soon upon us.

But I am so filled with hope from my Savior called Jesus for He is my portion, He is my hope.

And He made me his mouth, arms, and feet this last month to share hope with a stranger, now sister in Christ.

Thank Jesus for hope. Thank Jesus for hope.

Not a day has to pass without hope in my life.

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.