Last night I was talking with my husband and admitting that it was getting hard to keep waiting for our latest paperwork to go through for our adoption and that it would be really nice if God would just make things happen how I want them to and now not later! The current problem is that my fingerprints are hard to read, they don't make clear prints. My husband proceeded to explain to me that the paperwork will come when it is supposed to come, and he also mentioned that God made my fingerprints - they are how they are because He created them to be that way. I hadn't thought about the fact that God was responsible for my difficult fingerprints which have brought much frustration.....
Psalm 139:1-14 says "O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night," even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
This passage reminded me that God made me just how I am and He knows what I am thinking and feeling and He cares. Am I thankful for my many physical flaws? I guess so, as the creator lovingly and intentionally made me the way that I am. I have a hard time waiting for things; but God knows that I struggle with waiting and He still allows things that challenge that struggle to promote growth in my life. Without these growth challenges, I would always get what I want (no growth) and I would not need to place my trust and my dependence in God. This is very important for me to realize and remember often! God can challenge me in my spiritually weak areas because He knows better than I do what areas of my life need spiritual growth to take place.
Isaiah 46:10 says "declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,"
God alone knows the future and He orchestrates things to happen for a reason - things will be accomplished on this earth according to His plan and His timing. I trust that God knows best and so can try to remember to be thankful for the times that He "overrides" my plans so that a far better life experience can happen for me!
Proverbs 19:21 says "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails."
Lord, I have many plans for my life, many goals and ideas for each step and stage. Help me to submit all of my desires to you and trust you with my future that whatever happens would be what you desire for me, which can only be considered the best!
AMEN!
CHALLENGE:
Is there anything that you are waiting on the Lord for right now?
Is there anything that you are experiencing right now that, if you are willing, God could use to promote spiritual growth in your life?
Ultimately, are you trusting in God's plan for your life or your own?
If any of the above questions relate to you - write a prayer telling God about it!
Showing posts with label Adoption. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Adoption. Show all posts
12.29.2010
12.20.2010
Adjusting the Picture Clarity
Matthew 14:29-31 "He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." Jesus immediately reached out His hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"
I was pondering this passage today seeking some purpose for a challenge I am currently facing. My husband and I are pursuing the adoption of 1-2 children from Colombia. We have been on a waiting list for 2 years and recently it came about that our paperwork is being put on hold because of what normally would be an easy and simple step which has turned into 6 months of difficulty and some frustration. The pursuit of adopting children is a good thing! Choosing to be a parent is a good thing! Why does it then seem that God is allowing it to be so difficult?
This passage stood out to me because of the situation where Peter's faith is being tested. Peter became distracted from his obedience to follow Christ by his personal concern for his circumstances. He did not want to sink! Applying this to my situation, one could say that my obedience to Christ might be distracted obedience as the progress of our adoption is regularly on my mind. How do I not become angry or discouraged by my circumstances?
As Christians, many times we want to walk on the water - we want to have strong faith, but we don't keep our focus on Christ to pave the way for that kind of living. We say we want to have bold or brave faith but we chose to place our focus on whatever we want to. Perseverance, patience and endurance are needed!
Hebrews 12:1 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."
In an effort to gain further understanding I did a word study on the following two Greek words. Longsuffering and endurance are sometimes used as translations of the English word patience.
1) Makrothumia - makros means "long" and thumos means "temper". This gives us the word longsuffering. Part of Strong's definition of this word includes; the ability to endure persecution and ill-treament. Someone who has the power to exercise revenge but instead exercises restraint.
2) Hupomone - hupo means "under" and mone means "to remain". This gives us the word endurance. Part of Strong's definition of this word includes; the capacity to continue to bear up under difficult circumstances, not with passive complacency, but with hopeful fortitude that actively resists weariness and defeat.
What I learned from this word study and the Matthew 14 passage is that my vision at times is blurry and I need to adjust the focus and picture clarity of the lenses that I am looking through. It can be easy to look at your life or your job or the world around you and feel frustration at what you see and do not understand. However, asking God to bring clarity to your vision will help you see your situation differently. What I now see is an opportunity to trust God through the challenges that my husband and I are facing through our adoption journey. It is an opportunity to place my focus intentionally on God and allow Him to carry my worries and concerns. By handing my concerns and frustrations over to Christ I am acknowledging His control over my life. With some picture clarity I now see so much more around me and Christ becomes enlarged in my life. Although our pursuit of adoption and becoming parents is a big deal to my husband and I, Christ and my obedience to Him is a bigger deal. The more I look at Christ, the smaller my problems seem. Looking at the definition of Makrothumia, it clarified for me that what I am enduring could be much worse, so I can be thankful that it is not as bad as it could be! The word Hupomone has taught me that I am not to "give up" and do nothing about our paperwork situation, but that I am to remain consistently hopeful that things will work out and understand that if I am doing what I can on my part, I need to trust God with the rest and rejoice that the result will be what He has planned for me!
James 1:2-4 "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
With picture clarity I can experience internal joy when my focus is on Christ and I am being obedient to His plan and timing for my life!
CHALLENGE:
Is there anything that is causing fear or worry in your life right now?
What does the word Longsuffering mean to you?
What is holding your focus right now - something of this world or a heavenly focus?
Take some time to tell God what you answered above and why.
I was pondering this passage today seeking some purpose for a challenge I am currently facing. My husband and I are pursuing the adoption of 1-2 children from Colombia. We have been on a waiting list for 2 years and recently it came about that our paperwork is being put on hold because of what normally would be an easy and simple step which has turned into 6 months of difficulty and some frustration. The pursuit of adopting children is a good thing! Choosing to be a parent is a good thing! Why does it then seem that God is allowing it to be so difficult?
This passage stood out to me because of the situation where Peter's faith is being tested. Peter became distracted from his obedience to follow Christ by his personal concern for his circumstances. He did not want to sink! Applying this to my situation, one could say that my obedience to Christ might be distracted obedience as the progress of our adoption is regularly on my mind. How do I not become angry or discouraged by my circumstances?
As Christians, many times we want to walk on the water - we want to have strong faith, but we don't keep our focus on Christ to pave the way for that kind of living. We say we want to have bold or brave faith but we chose to place our focus on whatever we want to. Perseverance, patience and endurance are needed!
Hebrews 12:1 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."
In an effort to gain further understanding I did a word study on the following two Greek words. Longsuffering and endurance are sometimes used as translations of the English word patience.
1) Makrothumia - makros means "long" and thumos means "temper". This gives us the word longsuffering. Part of Strong's definition of this word includes; the ability to endure persecution and ill-treament. Someone who has the power to exercise revenge but instead exercises restraint.
2) Hupomone - hupo means "under" and mone means "to remain". This gives us the word endurance. Part of Strong's definition of this word includes; the capacity to continue to bear up under difficult circumstances, not with passive complacency, but with hopeful fortitude that actively resists weariness and defeat.
What I learned from this word study and the Matthew 14 passage is that my vision at times is blurry and I need to adjust the focus and picture clarity of the lenses that I am looking through. It can be easy to look at your life or your job or the world around you and feel frustration at what you see and do not understand. However, asking God to bring clarity to your vision will help you see your situation differently. What I now see is an opportunity to trust God through the challenges that my husband and I are facing through our adoption journey. It is an opportunity to place my focus intentionally on God and allow Him to carry my worries and concerns. By handing my concerns and frustrations over to Christ I am acknowledging His control over my life. With some picture clarity I now see so much more around me and Christ becomes enlarged in my life. Although our pursuit of adoption and becoming parents is a big deal to my husband and I, Christ and my obedience to Him is a bigger deal. The more I look at Christ, the smaller my problems seem. Looking at the definition of Makrothumia, it clarified for me that what I am enduring could be much worse, so I can be thankful that it is not as bad as it could be! The word Hupomone has taught me that I am not to "give up" and do nothing about our paperwork situation, but that I am to remain consistently hopeful that things will work out and understand that if I am doing what I can on my part, I need to trust God with the rest and rejoice that the result will be what He has planned for me!
James 1:2-4 "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
With picture clarity I can experience internal joy when my focus is on Christ and I am being obedient to His plan and timing for my life!
CHALLENGE:
Is there anything that is causing fear or worry in your life right now?
What does the word Longsuffering mean to you?
What is holding your focus right now - something of this world or a heavenly focus?
Take some time to tell God what you answered above and why.
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