Like Mother Like Daughter

It's that time of year again... just 3.5 weeks until the Connecting Hearts with the Forgotten Conference . My "to do" list is ridiculously long as all the last minute details are being sorted out... yet, this is of course, the opportune time God always takes to teach me something about Him, about me and adoption. And I have learned that if I don't take time to process this "something" and journal it, the lessons that are more precious than jewels are lost.

Lately, I have had moments of considering whether or not Sarah will struggle with not looking like me. Maybe because so many people have commented on how much Emily is just like me. Emily's hair color, complexion, blue eyes, and even the build of her body resemble my own appearance as a toddler. But even her personality is strikingly similar to who I was at almost 3 yrs. of age.

Sarah, obviously, does not look anything like me. And even her personality is completely opposite my own. In a world that glorifies the flesh and promotes outward appearance above all else, my mind swims in the confusion of wanting to protect my girl. Will this bother her someday? Maybe, maybe not.

I was often scolded growing up for "thinking too much". Which is great advice for petty thinking or dwelling on negative thoughts that I am very sure was all consuming in my youth. But I consider it a gift from God as I've grown into adulthood. Simply because I have been able to breathe in so much wisdom from His Word and godly people for "thinking too much" about what they say. How MUCH I certainly would have missed for not chewing on Truth hour by hour, day in and day out.

So, I've been thinking through future conversations with Sarah and Emily pretty often, seeking to know how best God would have me handle these possible questions.

On Sunday, Pastor Ed gave a wonderful sermon on the sanctity of life. In his message, he brought up 2 Genesis passages... Gen.1:27 and Gen. 5:3. They talk about how God created mankind in His own image and fathered a son in His own likeness. Image? Likeness? My ears perked up and my heart opened willingly to receive God's teaching. (Ha ha, I'm quite sure P. Ed had no intention of teaching about post-adoption... just goes to show the Word never goes out and returns void)

Like salve on an open wound or refreshing water to a thirsty soul, God's Word ministered to my Mommy heart. What is more important... to physically look like your parent or to spiritually mirror your Father in Heaven??

With renewed confidence from God's Word, I look forward to those questions from my sweet Sarah and my sweet Emily. I look forward to telling them that there is no value in physically looking like me or anyone else! My heart's desire is that we will look IDENTICAL in our search for God as He molds us and makes us into HIS image and HIS likeness. That in the truest sense of reality, our eternity, we will look and be like Mother like Daughter.

"Instead, let it be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit which is precious in the sight of God." 1 Peter 3:4

Sisters in Crime

They look harmless enough....

...until they decide to do the laundry for you.

(yep, they carried this lil tikes table in here all by themselves : )

This would be detergent in the fabric softener opening

and unmeasurable amounts of detergent in with the laundry.

Playing in the living room seems harmless enough too until you see there are no toys out in sight and only a step ladder by the suddenly bare Christmas tree...

...oh, and this pile of ornaments on the footstool.

Nothing like getting to decorate the tree twice for one Christmas!!

Gift Ideas to help ORPHANS!

Show the love of Christ to a child in need this Christmas!

What are you doing this year for Christmas?

Decorating the house? Making Christmas cookies? Celebrating with family and loved ones? Exchanging gifts?

What if this year you gave gifts that not only celebrated your loved ones but brought the love of Christ to a child in need? An orphan in Africa, India, Ukraine, or Honduras?

This year Lifesong for Orphans has gifts that will do just that. Give the new Lifesong cookbook...

or give a child in Africa food, a child in Honduras job skills training, a child in India a home... in honor of those you love... and really, what could be better at Christmas than to know your gift was given to a child who needed it more.

Check it out here.

May God bless your holiday season!


10-11 Gifts of Purpose from Lifesong for Orphans on Vimeo.

Pain that brings THANKSGIVING

Only God would equate pain with thanksgiving.

I would never write this post if I did not believe it was true nor would I know how to write this if I had not experienced it. The last 6 mos. have turned everything upside down around my little family of David, me and our kids. We are fine... but so many loved ones near us are not. Family and friends alike, on both sides. But, because we bear one another's burdens... in reality, we are not fine.

Each situation unique, each with grievous pain. Some pain is emotional, some physical and some spiritual. So many times, everything in me has cried out to God... "make it all STOP!" So many times, I just plead with God to send Christ back so we can go home. Of course, there are too many that do not know Him as Savior to really wish that.

Probably the deepest hurt for me is to see willful choices of sin that lead to devastation... for everyone, not just themselves. Consequences for those who "do what is right in their own eyes" hold tragedy of all kinds and sadly even for the surrounding innocent. The Enemy is cunning and disguises himself as an angel of light, justifying every fleshly desire.

Recently, it has occurred to me, that actually ALL pain is a result of willful choices of sin. The earth itself and all of mankind has been cursed because of sin. You can't read or watch the news without recognizing our world is devastated.

How does any of this lead to thanksgiving? I'm glad you asked.

"More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead." Philippians 3:8-11

"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you." 1 Peter 4:12-14

And then, yesterday, as I was working on my Isaiah study, God lovingly revived my weary heart with these precious words of truth that left tears of joy streaming down my face...

"He(God) will swallow up death for all time, And the Lord GOD will wipe tears away from all faces, And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth; For the LORD has spoken. And it will be said in that day, 'Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited that He might save us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited; Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.'"

Be encouraged dear sisters and brothers... "THIS is our GOD for whom we have waited that He might SAVE us!" Our time here is short and so many are lost. Don't be surprised by the abundant hardships but rest in His abundant comfort. Press on with me, friends! Don't lose sight of the goal when we are so close! Our GOD will be faithful to do it!! Choose today to give thanks for the great things He has done and REJOICE in the sufferings of Christ!

And let us not forget to pray for one another....

Adventures in Picture Taking

It's been a while since the girls got their pictures taken... so decided to get Sarah's 3 yr. and Emily's 2.5yr. yesterday!

Sarah did GREAT...

pulling out all the stops on big smiles

She had the photographers melting with their awwww's and she's so cute comments : )

And then there was Emily....

This one is my all time favorite...

the photographer PERFECTLY captured her 2 year old tantrum so I'll be able to remember them forever : )

Somehow...(through much bribing and distractions) we were able to turn Emily around

She even giggled a little!

I was grateful they caught her famous mischievous smile... she definitely has the DNA of our boys!

And finally a sweet one to finish off the day : )

Now just have to get a pic of all the kids for Christmas... or maybe not, ha ha!!

I love my Jesus

Earlier today, my little Guatemalan princess walks in to the kitchen while I was making dinner. My once shy and timid daughter, who now exhibits confidence in her 2 yr. old strut, makes her way towards me. Tickled by her cuteness, I swoop her up and squeeze her close to me as I say,"I love my Sarah". And just as natural as could be, she turned in my cradle hold, looked straight into my eyes and said, " I love my Jesus".

It's true, I can be dramatic. But there was something about that moment that will stand the test of time for me. My soul filled up with more thoughts than I could possibly write. But there was one main thread in all of it.... "remember". It was like God was saying...

Remember, Marianne, how I spoke to you in Jamaica?

Remember that I told you that you had found ME in the orphan?

Remember how I showed you that I was making a way for you to bring Sarah into your home with the miscarriage of your baby?
Remember that I provided EVERY penny needed for Sarah's adoption?
Remember how I brought Sarah home at just the right time and in just the right way?
Remember that I showed you that I loved you first so that you could love Me back?
Remember that you physically adopted Sarah so that I can teach her about eternal adoption?
Remember....

Funny how God seems to weave messages into your life that no one else gets except for you. Yes, we serve that personal of a God. "Remembering" is something that God has talked to me about many times in my life... specifically in times of doubt, pain or persecution. The trials facing my family seem more gigantic to me than Goliath. Contending for our faith requires endurance and this trial has felt like a marathon although it has only been 4 months. It is in these times that I recognize the Lord's prompting to remember.

Many times I choose to "remember" by looking at how God has brought me through personally in hard times before. Greater still, I "remember" by looking at how God has brought His people through hard times in the Word. But for some reason, these thoughts have felt over used or have lost it's power in my determination to hold on to faith and hope as of late.

However, a stirring in my heart has occurred the last few days and was solidified in my daughter's words today, "I love my Jesus". Remembering Jesus. Remembering the cross. Remembering there is no other hope but in the name of Jesus Christ. That no matter what befalls us in this life, Jesus is enough. Remembering that it was MY sin that put Him on the cross. Remembering that it was His choice to stay there for me. Remembering that even more than anything He's done IN my life, He's who GAVE me life. Remembering that there is no greater miracle and no greater act of love than what He has already done! Oh, ye of little faith. Is anything too impossible for Him? Never.

Chapter 9 of Nehemiah could have a chapter heading of "remembering". There are two separate kinds of remembering accounted for... God remembering and Israel NOT remembering.

The essence of the chapter is the descendants of Israel separating themselves from the people, recommitting to the Law of Moses and turning towards God. They even put an agreement in writing in a sealed document with the names of their leaders, the Levites and the priests.

In the midst of their fasting and reading from the Law, the Levites cry out to the Lord in confession and remembrance. They declare and remember WHO God is and WHAT God has done. In doing so, there is a great contrast.

God was faithful. Israel was not.

God was forgiving, gracious, compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. Israel was disobedient, rebellious, stubborn, arrogant and blasphemous.

God did not forsake. Israel turned away.

God spoke. Israel didn't listen.

You see, God REMEMBERS His promises and He keeps them. Israel FORGOT to remember the "wondrous deeds which [God] had performed among them"(v.17). And since we have a God that never changes, we know He remembers His promise to the children of God... we are His, we are adopted into the family of God through the blood of Jesus forever.

Have you forgotten to remember what God has done for you? If He hasn't done anything else for you.... the cross is more than any of us will ever deserve. And that's enough. In a world that screams "entitlement" from every angle, let's remember.... our sin, our unfaithfulness, our arrogance, our pride, our forgetfulness. And humbly remember the GRACIOUS and COMPASSIONATE gift of Jesus. Oh Lord, have mercy on this servant.

I LOVE MY JESUS!

I am going to end our study of Nehemiah with Chapter 9 with the above post. Please read the remaining chapters and enjoy! But since I begin my fall Bible study with Isaiah this week, I need to close this online study out.

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