Why Ethiopia?

This is a valid question that we often find ourselves facing when people find out we are adopting.

So when thinking about writing this post, I was preparing to dig through all sorts of stats about the needs, because believe me, there is need. (1 in 6 children die before the age of 5, 5 million orphans in a country only twice the size of Texas, etc.)

However, for us, it is goes deeper than just statistics.

Why Ethiopia?

That is where our daughter is.

I know that sounds simplistic. Definitely is definitive. Let me explain......

Proverbs. 16:9 "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." When you are following God's leading, it often takes you somewhere other than where you expected to go. For us - God has taken a process that we had planned to go a certain way and mushed it all around to something else entirely different. Something beautiful.

In Summer 2012, God impressed on us that it was time to get moving. It was time to put action to words. He was calling us to adopt. Great! Here we go. We had talked about adoption before and knew that fostering to adopt was the avenue we were going to approach.

No. Doubt. About. It.

We started doing our research......or actually to be truthful (because those people that know us well wouldn't fall for that) I started to research. Obviously we knew nothing and needed to know HOW to go about it. I was reading everything I could get my hands on about the topic of adoption and, more specifically, foster to adopt. The more I researched about adoption, the more I realized it was of utmost importance that our kids already in our home maintained our priority when making decisions for our family, their young ages and needs had to be considered. One thing felt clear. We needed to stay within our family's "birth order" - which meant the new kiddo would need to be under the age of 3 (Joel had just turned 4 at the time).  We also knew that we were not open to sibling sets at this point.  That considerably narrowed our parameters in the foster system. A child free for adoption. Under the age of 3. With no sibling. That would fit in our only room that had space, Tori's room (girl). The combination of those things and a few other things going on at the same time with old friends of ours, it became clear that it was a door closed to that particular avenue.

In all honesty, that shut door was hard for me to grasp. We were stumped. Foster to adopt had always been the plan when thinking "someday". I didn't know what to do next. The call to adopt was so strong......but take care of your own first, right? Embarrassing to admit, but that was always in my thoughts. Isn't it funny how even when thinking about something as awesome as adoption......we all still have an opinion? That one way is better than another? Isn't a kid in need, a kid in need? Regardless of where they are from? Let me tell you. God had to start working on my heart in a big way - and He started with some of the stuff that looked good on the outside, but He was dealing with an issue that no one could see on my insides. It was a pride thing. A judgmental thing - and God rooted it up from my core. Ouch.

See? Yet another example. Told you I'm messed up without Christ. I need His grace. Big time.

So if foster to adopt isn't it, then okay God, take the lead. Show us where to go. Because how on earth do we narrow it down to a country? There is need everywhere. Especially when we've never even looked outward beyond our country's borders.

I started looking into Haiti. 45 min. flight from Florida. Is there need? Check. Proximity? Check. Do we meet the adoption guidelines for the country? Almost......couple married for 10 yrs (accomplished Nov. 2012), one person in the couple age 35 (accomplished Oct. 2012) - so by Fall 2012? Check. We are a go!

Now to narrow down to an agency. Ugh. More research. Found a creche (or orphanage for younger kids) that we LOVED down in Haiti, based on their mission. Support to mamas. Adoption was the 2nd option. Getting kids healthy and back with their biological families was the main mission. So awesome. We envisioned going back to support, help, etc. That creche only worked with 2 different agencies, so our field was narrowed significantly. From that we chose the more experienced of the two agencies. We were a go. Sent in our application to that agency. They called back days after receiving it and let us know that Haiti was changing to a Hague country (not a problem) so all agencies had to be re-approved and no new families would be considered, for the whole country, until 2013.

Agency: Would you perhaps want to consider Ethiopia? Your family would be a good fit.  

Nope. Haiti.

Haiti continued to be up in the air. It became clear that no resolutions were coming any time soon.

Door closed.

Decided to inquire about Democratic Republic of the Congo with the same agency. They told us they would send the information.

Agency again asked: Would you consider Ethiopia? Your family would be a good fit.

Nope. We want to look into the Congo. We fit the requirements, with the exception of having 3 kids, and one of the countries requirements is that couples only have 2. The agency said that the country often waives that requirement and it should not be a problem. However, a few days later told us that they would rather not risk it as we could potentially get all the way to court and the judge decide to enforce the requirements, and that would be an issue.

Door closed.

Agency again asks: Would you consider Ethiopia? Your family would be a good fit.

Fine. We will consider it.

Information was sent to us by the agency. Started researching the country. We are in Love. We have total peace. This is it.

Door.Wide.Open.

Do you realize how much this process can parallel conceiving a child naturally?
Seriously, MILLIONS of options are available when you think about it. Sorry to speak of the birds and the bees with y'all (but hey, I was a P.E./health teacher back in the day, so I'm qualified to do so :) In any given conception there were MILLIONS of possible combinations. Millions of sperm going for one egg when a child is conceived, with each month having another set of totally different possibilities. It is absolutely mind boggling when you thing about what the chances are of you being you. Oh but wait, despite the "odds" it isn't chance. Psalms 139:13, 15&16 speaks to this "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Wow. Let that sink in. You were on purpose. Out of the MILLIONS of combos available - God had a plan for you.......

God also has a plan for one specific little girl we have yet to lay eyes on.

Did you know there are an estimated 165 million orphans worldwide?
How do we get to our little girl? We are being led. (Remember Prov. 16:9 from above) It started with that closed door for foster to adopt, which then led us to open up to possibility of international adoptions, which then led us to Haiti. Choosing that ONE creche, which led to that ONE agency, which then led to Ethiopia, which then leads to just a few orphanages. It then got even more specified than even those things. Since we lost our 1st referral at court, we can now only go through ONE region, which only has ONE orphanage that our agency works with.

Filtered down.

Bit by bit.

Down

to

ONE.

So why Ethiopia?

That is where our daughter is.
 

This is worth the repost, if you've never seen it.....

Mercy Triumphs

I have been joining 35ish women at Journey Church every Tuesday evening for the last six weeks. (big props to the hubs who shuttles around the kids and feeds them dinner to boot) We are currently going through a Beth Moore bible study of the book of James "Mercy Triumphs"

It is intense.

It is in your face.

It is timely. Each week. Very timely.

Remember reading in the blog a few weeks ago? Things were hard (okay, well that's been the theme for awhile). Oh, were they hard. I mean, come on. We had been waiting 7 weeks. That week was when we started studying the first chapter of James. James 1:2 "Consider it pure joy (PURE JOY), my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

Timely. Awesome. I could see how God was working in "my trial". Man it hurts. But I was totally considering it Joy because I know that the perserverance in it was bringing about something that couldn't come about any other way.

Fast forward to another month of the same trial and my painful miscarriage analogy last week (sorry to any man that might find themselves reading this blog) and you can deduce that I'm definitely not experiencing the feeling of joy, not even considering it joy at this point. 

Then, unfortunately, to top off the not feeling so joyous is the feeling of guilt for not being joyful. I know. Seriously? Messed up w/ out Christ.

Why would I fight feelings like this when I know God has got this? I mean, come on. I'm a Christian. Shouldn't a mature Christian have this all figured out by now? Well, my friends, when plagued by guilt (of any kind, not just my personal brand) there are two places to go. That guilt can cause you to run from God or run to him. Feelings of - I'm not good enough, I'm a failure, I should know better, I messed up big time, He'll never take me as I am are all lies, a certain "Father of Lies" uses, to get us to go the incorrect direction.

Even me. Where am I going to go? From him OR to him?

I so want so badly to have it all together, so badly that I at those guilt induced times forget James 4:6 "He gives us more grace. That is why scripture says: God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." God doesn't need us to have it all together. You see He already knows. Let me say that again. God already knows. My yuck? He knows. God loves me anyway. Your yuck? He knows. God loves you anyway. That guilt? He wants me to bring it TO him. Run TO Him when I feel a failure. Run TO Him when I'm face to face with not measuring up. Why? Because He will take it from you and replace it with freedom. Freedom from what? Guilt. Jesus's sacrifice on the cross took that yuck, of whatever you've done, when you repent and give it to Him - and He replaces it with freedom. Freedom. With Jesus standing firmly in my place - His sacrifice is enough. There is grace at the cross.

Whew. That is, was, and forever will be, good news. God gives us more grace!

And then last night......I got smacked in the face with joy and hope again. Praise Jesus!!!

Here is an excerpt from week 5 of the study that did a good job of lobbing perspective my way......... 
"This life cannot be properly understood without considering the spiritual realm, a realm that impinges on and ultimately determines the material realm in which we live day to day" (from a commentary) "Maybe we've heard this until the holes of our ears have grown over, but God is the only one looking through every layer and at every implication. He also looks upon a situation in context of what is, what was, and what is to come. His deliberations don't just involve immediate impact. He sees our place and our positions amid carefully woven generations."

I know that God's plan is beyond my understanding. I know that He has heard my every sigh....Psalms 139:4 "Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, Oh Lord. You hem me in - behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me."  and through this James study yesterday, God showed me a possibility that could potentially be unfolding. I know that He is orchestrating something bigger and more amazing than I could have ever dreamed up.

Still so amazed at the timeliness of this bible study in my life. This is one pumped up and encouraged mama! Love it!

In adoption news, we are still just waiting for MOWA to sign some letters so we can be referred our sweet girl. So prayers would be appreciated! It does make me chuckle how I was so afraid of court closure (mid-August thru mid-October) and by the time we get our next referral, have weathered through the new PAIR process and are submitted to court, closure will no longer be an issue.

Song of the week......

I still Believe

by Jeremy Camp

 This song in and of itself is so good. However, new perspective on the song a few weeks ago, as I found out that Jeremy Camp wrote this song shortly after his wife's death in 2001. Whew.

12 weeks....

This blog entry is getting published out in blog land in the evening, but please make note internally it was written in the morning. Why do you need to know that? Because adoption has it's ups and downs, and this blog post was written in a down. A deep down funk that I have been in for a few days. I had a bit of a much needed perspective change after writing this to full completion. Perspective. It is a beautiful thing. So much so, I wasn't even going to publish this post. Just save it for myself. However, it part of the story. Whether I like it or not, it is what I'm going through. Because of that - I'm putting it out there. Proceed at your own risk.........

It is hard to write about struggles, but here it is people.

I am finding myself fiercely fighting an urge to look like I have it all together. In case I have anyone fooled into thinking that - I'm putting that notion to rest right now. I do not have it all together. Not even close. Do you know how easy it would be to sugar coat things on this blog? Or not write anything at all when times are rough? In all honesty, I'd rather save face. However, for authenticity sake, I feel compelled to let this blog follow all aspects of our adoption journey. The good, the bad and the ugly.  

Unfortunately, this is the ugly.

This wait is becoming brutal the longer it goes on, and this mama is still counting by the weeks...


I have recently pinpointed why it is getting worse. Effects of a mental miscarriage. What? Sounds crazy, right? Stick with me. When we lost Baby H's referral, other adoptive mama's who had also experienced that same loss told me that losing a referral was like a mental miscarriage. Hmmm.....okay, that's odd - but I could kinda see that comparison. Hopes and dreams for that child, excitement about that child, anticipation for that child, etc. and then it all comes to an abrupt halt. Abrupt. Halt.

I understood what those adoptive mom's were saying. I got the analogy. But knowing God has a plan in store and knowing how we lost Baby H referral, which was very definitive that she wasn't the child for us (as opposed to other ways to lose a referral), made it easier for me to move on in the beginning. Please don't get me wrong. Still incredibly hard. Still sad. Crazy disappointing. But knowing that baby H went back with her mama. Awesome. Knowing that we were again waiting for a little girl that needed us as a family. Awesome. Especially because we believed it would happen soon. Within weeks.

Oh, how ignorance is bliss. How glad I am now that I had no idea I'd still be waiting almost three months later.

Fast forward to now.....and I am totally understanding the miscarriage reference. I am watching others who were with me in the process already home with their kiddos. I'm watching others who were behind me in the process pass me and are close to bringing home kiddos. Yet here I wait. At the start. Not even knowing who my kiddo is. What she looks like. How old she is. Her name. What is her name?

It hurts people. It hurts.

Please don't get me wrong, I am totally celebrating with these other families. THRILLED that these kids who were orphaned are now loved and cherished. It is amazing to watch, actually. But when you feel stuck? With no end in sight? With constant reminders of where you thought you'd be?

Let's just say I'm understanding that reference loud and clear now. Loud and clear.

Whew. So basically it comes down to that I am feeling like a hot mess (which I already knew, but now it is all up in my face big time) God already knows it, yet He loves me anyway. He has grace enough for even me.

I saw the following on a friend's facebook page this past week. Bears repeating. Believing in Jesus doesn't mean I have it all together......it's actually admitting that I don't.

I am a Christian
When I say that "I am a Christian," I am not shouting that "I am clean living." I am whispering "I was lost, but now I'm found and forgiven."
When I say that "I am a Christian," I don't speak of this with pride. I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.
When I say "I am a Christian," I'm not trying to be strong. I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.
When I say "I am a Christian," I'm not bragging of success. I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.
When I say "I am a Christian," I'm not claiming to be perfect. My flaws are far too visible, but God believes I am worth it.
When I say "I am a Christian," I still feel the sting of pain. I have heartaches, so I call upon His name.
When I say "I am a Christian," I'm not holier than thou. I'm just a simple sinner who received God's good grace, somehow!

As for new adoption news - I did find out that at least one child meeting our parameters (girl 0-2yrs.) has been moved from the orphanage that we must adopt from (if you don't know what I'm referring to, you can look back and find the explanation in a mid-July blog post) to the foster home as of a week ago. Which is exciting - however, the referral can not take place until she is paper ready......and we are waiting for one more MOWA letter to arrive for that child. How long will that take? No telling. Could be a week, a month or more. No time frame. More waiting with no definitive end in sight.

Just to be clear.......this expose into my struggle doesn't change what I know. I know God is working for the good. I know this is all part of a bigger plan. I know that this little girl will be worth every second of the wait. But knowing all those things doesn't take away the pain of the wait that this mama has in her heart.


Please be praying for my sweet girl. She is the one lacking the most. Pray for her heart. For her protection. Pray that the paperwork that stands in the way would be dealt with swiftly.

Also, please be praying for strength, patience & peace during this extended wait time. I need it.

No changes around here......

I realized today that it had been almost two weeks since I last updated the blog - however, the title of this post sums it all up. Yet somehow I feel obligated to let you people know (whoever you people happen to be), that you haven't missed anything exciting, Nothing new has happened. We are still basking in the wait. Okay, maybe basking isn't the right word, but still waiting. Which is why my blog posts don't happen as often as these days. Do you realize how hard it is to vamp in blog format? Challenging to say the least :)

However, today isn't a vamp. It is good stuff. LONG stuff. So read on, if you dare......

Yesterday I had the opportunity to share at church what God has been doing in our lives.

Yes.

You read that right -  Opportunity.

Last year, at this time, the last thing I would have called it was an opportunity. I would have called speaking in front of two services full of people what it would have been. Awkward torture. You couldn't have forced me. Public speaking is not what I would ever dream of putting on a resume, should I have the chance, because I don't enjoy it.

However, God is showing me to never say never. God has lit a fire in me. I have seen the goodness of the Lord, I have seen His provision first hand, and He is stretching and growing me in ways I never could have imagined.


The result of that?  I can't stop talking about it. To anyone.

So having the opportunity to share at church with that many people - AMAZING. Scary? Out of my comfort zone? A step of faith? Absolutely. But AMAZING.

Want to know the funny thing? (of course you do, why am I even asking) I had known for about 2 weeks that I was going to be speaking this past Sunday - and I had just about the roughest two weeks ever.

Nothing makes you feel disqualified from sharing like feeling like a big ol' mess. Thankfully we have a God that uses us in our weakness, so that we know beyond a shadow of a doubt, that it is HIM. Not us.

I was really struggling with the wait those two weeks. Really struggling. I still have complete trust that God has a plan. I still know His word is true. But honestly, my heart at times just hurts. A tangible ache. All I want is to see my sweet kiddo. All I want is to start moving again in this process. I mean, come on. Today marks eleven weeks since we lost our referral to baby H. Our dossier was sent off to Ethiopia over 7 months ago. It is time for some movement people!

Early last week I was having a frank conversation/prayer with God letting him know just how hard this was. I found myself telling him that he had no idea what it was like to wait.

.....then I heard it. Not audibly. But God was showing me. He waits too.

Seriously? What on earth would God be waiting for? Creator of all. Sovereign. Kinda says it all.

Then He hit me with it.

He waits for people to move.
He waits for people to respond.
God made us to have free will (ON PURPOSE)......so He must wait.
He can show us the truth of His word. He can prompt us with the Holy Spirit. But until we CHOOSE to obey and take a step of faith, He waits.

I don't know why, but that was a huge revelation to me. And the yuck that I had been through the last two weeks with the wait? Worth it. He uses all things for the good. Even that. That revelation to me was the exact thing that I felt like I needed to bring with me on Sunday, to challenge people. 
James 1:22 "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."

As hard as it can be at the time to learn through the trials and hard times, the growth is priceless. I am grateful that God loves me so much that He won't leave me as I am. He has more for me. All I have to do is leave myself open, regardless of where it takes me or what the cost may be. Because this I know. He is worth it.

Please be praying for us this week - we would love this to be the week we see our little gal's face!

Again, with a song. I can't seem to help myself....

Blessed be your name

Anthony Evans

In His word I put my hope.

It is amazing how different emotions can reside inside me at the same time. 

The last few weeks have been so busy. Trying to stuff in the last bit of summer fun before school starts. Hitting the back to school sales, seeking out that perfect first day of school outfit. Finding out what teachers will be graced by my children's presence this year ;) And then finally preparing for that first day of school. 

It has been busy. It has been awesome. It has also been hard.

Little reminders of where we thought we would be in the process of adopting baby H keep popping up.

Pre-purchased back to school supplies waiting on my children's desk at school - ordered back in April when we thought we'd be traveling to Ethiopia to pick up our sweet girl to take her home around the start of the school year. As a planner, I knew it would be a busy time. I wanted to have one less thing to worry about.

Teachers and parents of our kid's friends at school asking how soon until we bring baby H home. We lost our referral after school ended....so there were a whole slew of people that didn't know.

And the kicker.....the thorough cleaning of Tori's backpack before the school year began. In that cleaning I found a wallet sized picture of baby H, the one she carried with her to show her friends last year. When I turned it over I was greeted by sweet 7 yr. old hand drawn hearts all over the back. Oof. That hit me hard. The reminder. This disappointment and wait is not mine alone. Not Jason's alone. The kids feel it too. 

Whew. Tough Stuff.

Those in my face reminders fight to pull my focus off of what God is doing through this process.....and make it about what He is not doing. 

What God is not doing is not following MY plan.

Oh how frustrating that is. Especially when I have a great plan! (at least I think I do) But honestly. Even though I think I have a great plan - I do believe it possible that God has a better one or bigger one in store.

Despite this knowledge there is an internal struggle that I face. My plan vs. how God's plan is playing out. And within that that I find myself faced with a choice. I can follow my feelings which lead to nothing but frustration and self-pity that things aren't working out in my time frame OR I can dig into the word and get a better perspective.

 *Side note......a set back was inevitable. I was getting a bit amazed by my own patience in the wait this past month, wherein lies the problem. God was sustaining me. It had nothing to do with me. So bring on the set back that comes with pride and making it about me. (yes, as silly as that sounds, and as humbling as that is to write - a touch of pride with just how well I was doing waiting) Seriously? I know. I'm ridiculous. Please don't judge :)

Whew. Yesterday I found myself sitting in my frustration and sorrows. Yes. People I am human. I notoriously pick the feelings option for at least a few hours before I get a good poke in the spirit and then turn into the word. Let me tell you. There is NOTHING as calming. NOTHING as peace filling. NOTHING else that can fill that disappointed yuck space like God's word. 

Yesterday God brought me back to a passage I honestly hadn't felt like I've needed in a while - Psalms 130 about crying out to God and waiting.  

One little verse stood out. 

One. 

Let the digging begin.

Psalms 130:5 "I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope."
In His word I put my hope. 
In His WORD I put my hope. 
In HIS WORD I put my HOPE.

What does God's WORD say about him? Let's see....

The Lord will hear when I call to him (Psalms 4:3)
He is a shield for all who take refuge in him (Psalms 18:30) 
The eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him (Psalms 33:18)
Those who fear him lack nothing (Psalms 34:9)
He is our salvation (Acts 4:12)
He is faithful (Psalms 33:4)
He gives strength to the weary (Isaiah 40:29)
He is gentle (Isaiah 42:3)
He gives wisdom to those who ask (James 1:5)
He will never leave or forsake you (Deut. 31:6)
He is pretty big (Psalms 33:6-11)
He has a father's heart (Matt. 7:7-12)
He has plans for us (Jer. 29:11)
He never changes (Heb. 13:8)
And on and on.....that is just the tip of the iceberg.

Maybe it is just me, but when I read Psalms 130:5 "my soul waits and in his WORD I put my hope" and then I stop and ponder what that really means. What his word says about him. Wow. Now that is something I can put my hope in......and my feelings that were crazy out of control moments before are soothed when reminded of just WHO is in control. 

Whew. That's where I am. A human feeling fighter who is on my knees looking up for strength. God is faithful. God is Good. I trust in him. If you don't know Him, you should get to know Him. The peace that he gives is unmatchable. Just sayin'.

You knew I had to do it at some point this week - here is a song!

The Lord our God is

Passion 2013

 

 

Beginnings

Ahhh......the 1st day of school. School clothes new, clean & fresh. New school supplies. New potential friends. Eager kids. So much to look forward too! Which makes it worthy of breaking into my adoption blog to share pictures of my 3 beautiful children that are already within my home. Be.Still.My.Heart. I know I'm there mama, but sometimes I find myself blown away by their cuteness.

Also, I must tell you to brace yourself dear people.

There will be no attached song today. I know that is what you've come to expect from me.

However, wipe your non-existent tears and take a peak at these sweet pics!

Below is Joel & my self-portrait when we returned home......just the two of us. On the first day. For the last time. Next year - Kindergarten for Joel. Big things will happening this year, and next year I'll be returning home with another sweet child after dropping off THREE kids. I am so excited about what is about to unfold during this school year :) 

8 weeks

It has now been 8 weeks that we have been waiting for our new referral.

I just made the realization recently that I had changed. I have changed the way I count. Big news, right? Seriously. Throughout this entire adoption experience I have always kept track using basic generic counting methods (you know, just keeping track in plain old months) i.e. we've been in the process X number of months or we've had our referral for about a month or so - I never kept track down to the week.

Until now.

Why the change? Honestly, I'm not really sure. Trying my hand at introspection (is that even a word?) I discovered that the only other time in my life weeks have been used to count wait was when I was pregnant with each of my three children. I was very specific in my count. Neurotically specific. Just ask Jason. I always knew EXACTLY what week and day I was on in the 40 week pregnancy wait.

In thinking about this "count" and when it's been utilized in the past, I can't help but be drawn into thinking of the other similarities between my pregnancies and this adoption.

All of my children were eagerly anticipated.
All of my children were covered with prayer.
All of my children occasionally made me sick (whether it be physically with morning sickness or with some type of pregnancy scare).
All of my children made me lose sleep (either from not being able to "turn off" my brain or from using the bathroom multiple times every night)
All of my children were loved before they were "officially" with us (outside the mama, that is!). 
All of my children were wanted.  Truly wanted.


The daughter we've never set sight on is no different. Anticipated, wanted, loved and making me lose sleep (although not for the bathroom reason this time :) 
 
That is why I count weeks.

But you know the weird thing?  She has absolutely no idea. No idea that she is loved. No idea that she has a family on the other side of the world that is so excited about getting a glimpse of her face that they are counting the WEEKS.


If she only knew.

You know what is interesting to ponder? The fact that she is totally unaware of our very existence doesn't change things. She is wanted. She has a family. She will soon have a new facet to her identity.

Hmmm....remind you of something? Sounds familiar.

Love. Waiting. Wanting. Sacrifice- sure sounds like the gospel message to me. All of that happening without us knowing. Without us having an idea. Whether we will choose to ignore it, avoid it or not believe it, does not change the fact that WE are wanted.

Wow. What a love. It is because of who HE is and what HE has done. It is not because of merit.  It can't be earned. It is based on who God is. The sacrifice that was already made. As for me, Jesus stands in my place and my righteousness before God is found only in Him. I have been adopted. Redeemed. Restored. And the news keeps getting better....He isn't changing. The name I AM that was told to Moses says it all. Now that is Good News.

Romans 5:8
God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Let that sink into your soul. YOU are wanted.

Wanted

by Dara Mclean