Don't you love being in the house of the Lord worshiping with your brothers and sisters!
It's been a long time since I when to church on a Wednesday night. Mike began going again back a few months ago, but for me it seems like so much work to get out at night in the cold with a little one. But I went last night I'm so glad I did!
We had a guest speaker Harry Pressley from Calvary Chapel Bellmawr. What a blessing to hear him share last night. He was was reading from 1 Corinthians 12. He was teaching about the many spiritual gifts. There are so many gifts the Lord can give us. He of course mentioned the gift of faith and miracles.
These are two gifts we saw first hand this past week and a half! I can't begin to tell you how much of a blessing it was for us to have so many of you praying believing in faith that the Lord was going to provide all that was needed to take this next step! It's our prayer that the Lord is glorified in all of this!
I was talking to a new friend of mine, Kimberly, and she and I were talking about all the trials we've faced this year. For us it's been a financial. She was suggesting that perhaps the Lord has allowed this year of financial struggling for our family just for the purpose of this last week to take place.
If Mike's work had been booming and he had twice the work he normally has. We would still be adopting and when that 9200.00 was needed we could have just written out a check and mailed it. Which would have been fine, but he allowed us to be in this vulnerable place and put us in a position to ask our brothers and sisters to join us in prayer and to provide this huge amount of money in a short period of time. Through this so many people Christians and non- Christians alike have heard this testimony of God faithfulness! It's our prayer that this adoption testimony ,which is not over yet, will cause people's faith to grow! More importantly show them that when the Lord tells us to do something....even when it makes no sense....it's our job, obligation to respond with a yes Lord! A verse that I love is “The eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those who love Him.” (2 Chron. 16:9) Isn't that a sweet promise from our Lord!
Back to last night. Not only did we love what he was teaching and It felt so relevant to all that's taken place these past few days, but he mentioned how he gets the privilege to travel oversees to teach.
He mentioned that he's been to Nepal several times!
This is a country that needs the Lord desperately! He was sharing how there are so many idols there. I believe I heard they have more idols then people....what a sad picture. He was sharing about how he witnessed goats being killed as an offering to gods. He also mentioned something that I wasn't aware of. Apparently there are a lot of moneys over there and the people think they are gods. He was in the streets and witnessed a young child being caught by a money and being beat up and all these people just standing there doing nothing! Can you even imagine! He didn't just stand there he intervened and tried to help this child. Later after church we were introduced to him and he shared a little more about that story. Apparently he could have been stoned because he did that. Praise the Lord he wasn't! This world we live in is such a mess all I can say is COME LORD JESUS COME!!!
It was neat being able to ask him questions about Nepal. There is a Calvary Chapel team of pastors going to Nepal next year. Wouldn't that be a hoot to be able to travel with them and of course my other new friend, Elissa, who is also adopting a little guy from Nepal. She and her hubby have a few months on us though. I believe their dossier was sent in September....but you NEVER know maybe the Lord will still allow us to travel together!
On another note I have a few more prayer requests to add to the list from a few days ago.
We have a friends who leave today to travel to Ethiopia to bring home their new daughter! They will arrive home on Christmas day! They have three biological children and now will have three adopted! Pray for their children at home and for there new daughter as she enters her new home. She's about 12-13 years old so it may be a little harder to adjust to her new life, but she couldn't be adopted by better parents and she'll have great brothers and sisters!
I have another friend who is traveling to China in just 9 days I think to bring home her new little boy Rhett! Pray for the Lord to begin working in his little heart for all the changes that he's about to have. Help her and her hubby to have a clear mind and be able to focus on packing and doing everything that needs to be done before they leave. They leave the day after Christmas!
We know another family who is welcoming home their 5th adopted child today! Be praying for the Pratt family and this new little girl!
And last but not least my dear friend Amy and her husband. They just passed court and are now the proud parents of a three year old little girl from Ethiopia! They have also adopted once before and they now have two little girls the same age! Kinda like twins! Pray for them to have a clear mind and have peace as they begin to make their travel plans!
I just LOVE adoption and all that the Lord is doing!
Father bless all these children that are coming home and the millions more who are waiting for a daddy and mommy! And bless these families who are about to travel and welcome these little ones home! In Jesus name we pray....AMEN!