"He [Abraham] did not waver in unbelief at God's promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, because he was fully convinced that what God has promised, he was also able to do." - Romans 4:20 - 21
Rebekah & I are walking through a He / She Reads Truth study on The Promises of God, and this reference was one of the highlighted passages early in the first week. The entire passage talks about how even though Abraham was nearly 100 years old, God had promised him that he would be the father of many nations. In all of this, Abraham's faith did not waver. He continued to trust God because he knew that God was (and still is) able to do what He had promised He would do.
Another of the week's readings featured Joshua 3, and 2 verses there stuck out to Rebekah and me: "But keep a distance of about a thousand yards between yourselves and the ark. Don't go near it, so that you can see the way to go, for you haven't traveled this way before." (Joshua 3:4). "Then Joshua told the Israelites, 'Come closer and listen to the words of the Lord your God'" (Joshua 3:9).
2020 has been a strange year for all of us (and we all thought 2019 was the pits!), but it has been different and sweet at times in our home. We placed a temporary hold on our next adoption. We took time to re-center our focus on the Lord and on each other. We have said no to things just so we could rest. It has not been all rainbows, unicorns, and puppy dogs. In fact, there have been days that have been downright rotten. But there has been a strong sense of peace in our home. We have laughed more than we have cried. We have rejoiced more than we have grieved. We have trusted more than we have wavered.
Near the end of 2019, I felt the Holy Spirit telling me that my word for the coming year was hope - for restored relationships, for peace, for completion. I didn't know exactly what that looked like at the time, and to be honest I still don't know. But I know that I know that I know that He has made me a promise, and He will fulfill that in His time and in His way. Why? Because what He has promised, He is also able to do!
We don't know what lies ahead for us as we continue on our journey, but we do know that we have to follow the Lord since we haven't traveled this way before. It is all going to look so different - new case workers, new domestic specialist, new world in which we are living if we are being frank. Just as the Ark of the Covenant went with the Israelites to guide the way for them in the desert, the Holy Spirit goes before us down a path that we haven't been. We have to draw nearer to Him and listen to His words. It is so interesting that when we stop, when we Sabbath, when we rest & trust, we can actually hear the words of the Lord. Being forced to stop my normal and slow down has caused me to savor my quiet time because I have not rushed it. It has allowed me to journal more since I have the time, and I have had some major personal revelations this past month. It has let me spend more time with the ones I love and serve in ways I don't normally get to.
Yesterday, my van broke down and had to be towed. Hugo needs a partial engine rebuild because of some misfires as well as some other tune-ups. Obviously, we hadn't planned for that when we were in the drive through getting lunch. BUT! We had lunch ready for a backseat picnic. We were in a safe area that was easy for my MIL to come get my family while I waited for the wrecker to get the van. I was able to finally meander Target and found a pair of clearance jeans for $9 & some journals (ya know, those ones that I was nervous I wouldn't have any more of before the quarantine ended)! My BIL was able to come get me and take me home. And here's the kicker y'all. We had just closed on a refinance of our mortgage because of the low interest rates, and as a result, we actually walked away with some cash from closing - enough to COVER the cost of repairs. How incredible is that timing? These things don't surprise our God. He goes before us and makes a way where there is seemingly none. He does what He has promised he would do. We just have to come closer and listen to Him.
On this 42nd day of quarantine, I pray that you slow down, rest, and trust in the promises of a faithful God.
Showing posts with label quarantine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label quarantine. Show all posts
Sunday, April 26, 2020
Thursday, March 26, 2020
the next right thing
One of the first books I listened to this year was The Dutch House by Ann Patchett. The audio is narrated by Tom Hanks, and it is everything you would want from a Patchett - Hanks combo. One of the lines that stood out to me is, "The point wasn't whether or not I liked it. The point was it HAD to be done." After all that we endured and came through last year, that quote just resonated with me and has almost been a guiding principle in a way.
Don't we all have things in our lives that we don't like doing, but we know they have to be done. Sometimes it may be going to work, or providing care for an ailing loved one, or simply cleaning out the closet of the old nursery. I'm sure you all can guess which of those three fits my current situation. My mom is coming up this weekend to celebrate our big boy's birthday (what started as family and school friends has now dwindled to only immediate family, which was a whole other had-to-be-done moment), and the play room needs to have the guest bed brought back in.
The process of preparing for my mom's arrival was the perfect time to finally move the nursery items back to the attic. And man, was that tough. We left the nursery items in that room for the majority of 2019 in hopes that we would match again, but we converted it back into a playroom at the beginning of 2020 when we put our adoption on temporary hold. For the past few months, all of the nursery items and clothes have still been in that dresser and in that closet - lingering, waiting, almost taunting me in a way. I have gotten overwhelmed with the toys in there, the layout, so many tiny things to the point of my not wanting to be in there.
Rebekah suggested that I work on cleaning out and storing things in the attic today. I could then move some of those things into the closet and organize some things in the dresser. It was tough. It was so very tough on me emotionally. But, it was also so sweet. I played The Messiah on vinyl while HWD played and played in the room. I showed him where things were going to go now, and he loved it. We played in there and just laughed and enjoyed each other before we did our dinner prep and ate lunch.
The point was not whether or not I liked moving all of those precious, tiny clothes into the attic. The point was it had to be done for the betterment of the family I have now.
In the midst of this quarantine business, I have realized / solidified the fact that preschool teaching is not my spiritual gift. Shout out to Ms. Shea for loving my crazy kid at school every day, and for loving on a room full of kids like him. I have also had extreme clarity in these past 11 days of how 1 child is truly all I could handle at this time. Funny how God always knows what he's up to in those cases. And isn't funny how we can be hurting and growing at the same time? The Lord knows what has to be done, and He does it. Whatever your next right thing is, I pray that you have the courage to face it today - even if you don't like it. Stay safe, y'all. And wash yo hands!
Don't we all have things in our lives that we don't like doing, but we know they have to be done. Sometimes it may be going to work, or providing care for an ailing loved one, or simply cleaning out the closet of the old nursery. I'm sure you all can guess which of those three fits my current situation. My mom is coming up this weekend to celebrate our big boy's birthday (what started as family and school friends has now dwindled to only immediate family, which was a whole other had-to-be-done moment), and the play room needs to have the guest bed brought back in.
The process of preparing for my mom's arrival was the perfect time to finally move the nursery items back to the attic. And man, was that tough. We left the nursery items in that room for the majority of 2019 in hopes that we would match again, but we converted it back into a playroom at the beginning of 2020 when we put our adoption on temporary hold. For the past few months, all of the nursery items and clothes have still been in that dresser and in that closet - lingering, waiting, almost taunting me in a way. I have gotten overwhelmed with the toys in there, the layout, so many tiny things to the point of my not wanting to be in there.
Rebekah suggested that I work on cleaning out and storing things in the attic today. I could then move some of those things into the closet and organize some things in the dresser. It was tough. It was so very tough on me emotionally. But, it was also so sweet. I played The Messiah on vinyl while HWD played and played in the room. I showed him where things were going to go now, and he loved it. We played in there and just laughed and enjoyed each other before we did our dinner prep and ate lunch.
The point was not whether or not I liked moving all of those precious, tiny clothes into the attic. The point was it had to be done for the betterment of the family I have now.
In the midst of this quarantine business, I have realized / solidified the fact that preschool teaching is not my spiritual gift. Shout out to Ms. Shea for loving my crazy kid at school every day, and for loving on a room full of kids like him. I have also had extreme clarity in these past 11 days of how 1 child is truly all I could handle at this time. Funny how God always knows what he's up to in those cases. And isn't funny how we can be hurting and growing at the same time? The Lord knows what has to be done, and He does it. Whatever your next right thing is, I pray that you have the courage to face it today - even if you don't like it. Stay safe, y'all. And wash yo hands!
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