New Camera and More Agency thoughts
God answers prayer...Samuel "hid" our camera somewhere while playing with it. I didn't like it much anyway, so I'll thank him later in life. We were on the lookout for a new one for awhile, and we spotted one on super clearance today at Best Buy, 50% off. We got the last one in stock. I like the picture quality.
Nellie is very photogenic. I was impressed with the first photo off the camera. Oh, you probably want to see the kids. We went to the "Pond" at Elm Creek Park Reserve today.
It was late in the day, so hardly anyone was there.
The kids are doing well...we all are. Anya pushes the boundaries a bit, and Samuel is kind of a typical 3 year old. But they are such darlings. Tonight at fireworks, Anya was in my lap, and Samuel was in Nellie's lap...I looked at Nellie, and smiled, saying, "She's my girl (Anya)". The joy of having another daughter is so wonderful. After our first two biological children were girls, we had three straight boys. What drew me to JOH in the first place was the long held desire to have another girl in the family. Well we got a girl and a boy, and we love them both!! They truly seem just like one of us...God is a perfect matchmaker.
A Word from the Lord
A couple weeks ago, I got a word from the Lord that dark days are ahead. I assumed he was talking about the adoption, so I told Nellie, and we've been praying about it. I asked the Lord repeatedly to be with us in the dark time. You cannot avoid God's will...you can only hope to know his presence through his will.
I've personally experienced slander on several occasions. I've heard via third parties on one occasion that some thought I shouldn't have Samuel in Ukraine after the 10 day waiting period. I responded in Ukraine by going to the only important person in the process, Igor, who was wise and kind through the whole ordeal. It turned out that the "whisperers" had partial information, and I wonder why they were whispering at all.
I've also recently heard through a friend that someone in our agency does not think we represent Christ well, at least not to one individual. Wow, that really stings. I've prayed about it, as has Nellie. Nothing is more concerning to me than my testimony about the Lord. But when such accusations come, I go to the Lord, and ask him if any of it is legit in His eyes. He is the only one I'm trying to please. As is said in Isiah 2:22 (I had to look it up),
But our focus is not on our agency. Every prayer and every approach Nellie and I have taken in the adoption since returning from Ukraine is to protect and solidify Anya and Samuel to our family. We have limited contact to them, and we will keep them in a place where the attachment will continue to grow. That is where the Lord has directed us to put our energies.
I once had a co-worker tell me how much he disapproved of my sharing the gospel with him. He spoke about another, someone who was nice and kind and never ruffled feathers. He liked her testimony, because she never spoke about Christ. But Hebrews 4:12 says the word of God is living and active. God gave me the gift of evangelism and prophecy. Evangelism is not a subtle gift. Prophecy is a very non-subtle gift.
It took me years to realize there is nothing wrong with my gifting. I don't need to reform it. I need to obey it, and let God work out the details. And He will in this matter. I just have to wait for it.
Nellie is very photogenic. I was impressed with the first photo off the camera. Oh, you probably want to see the kids. We went to the "Pond" at Elm Creek Park Reserve today.
A Word from the Lord
A couple weeks ago, I got a word from the Lord that dark days are ahead. I assumed he was talking about the adoption, so I told Nellie, and we've been praying about it. I asked the Lord repeatedly to be with us in the dark time. You cannot avoid God's will...you can only hope to know his presence through his will.
I've personally experienced slander on several occasions. I've heard via third parties on one occasion that some thought I shouldn't have Samuel in Ukraine after the 10 day waiting period. I responded in Ukraine by going to the only important person in the process, Igor, who was wise and kind through the whole ordeal. It turned out that the "whisperers" had partial information, and I wonder why they were whispering at all.
I've also recently heard through a friend that someone in our agency does not think we represent Christ well, at least not to one individual. Wow, that really stings. I've prayed about it, as has Nellie. Nothing is more concerning to me than my testimony about the Lord. But when such accusations come, I go to the Lord, and ask him if any of it is legit in His eyes. He is the only one I'm trying to please. As is said in Isiah 2:22 (I had to look it up),
Yet, I have to consider the legitimacy of the claim. An honest assessment though is that I have ruffled some feathers, because I write the truth in this blog, and that carefully edited, because I don't like it when the Lord comes to me, and says, "you were wrong...time to apologize". And yet I'm not pure in this regard. I understand why discussions with others, as opposed to going to the source as Jesus commands, is so appealing. Because it feels safer, and you want other people to hear your observation about someone else and agree with you. When it comes from an organization you hired, and is working for you, the expectation is that the agency sets the standard for professional conduct, and yet I am responsible for my conduct in Christ."Stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils...of what account is he?
But our focus is not on our agency. Every prayer and every approach Nellie and I have taken in the adoption since returning from Ukraine is to protect and solidify Anya and Samuel to our family. We have limited contact to them, and we will keep them in a place where the attachment will continue to grow. That is where the Lord has directed us to put our energies.
I once had a co-worker tell me how much he disapproved of my sharing the gospel with him. He spoke about another, someone who was nice and kind and never ruffled feathers. He liked her testimony, because she never spoke about Christ. But Hebrews 4:12 says the word of God is living and active. God gave me the gift of evangelism and prophecy. Evangelism is not a subtle gift. Prophecy is a very non-subtle gift.
It took me years to realize there is nothing wrong with my gifting. I don't need to reform it. I need to obey it, and let God work out the details. And He will in this matter. I just have to wait for it.
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