Great is His Faithfulness

                                                      *Beautiful Lake in Nicaragua*

As I share about our adoption, a variety of questions come. When I was younger, challenges to the life I was living shook me more. But as I have grown ollllderrr I've learned to accept that not everyone will understand and agree, but as long as I know I am following God where He wants me to go, I'll be just fine. 


Here is the lesson I am learning...every challenge is a chance to share God's faithfulness. Rather than trying to defend myself and my choices and why I am able to do this, I can share how God provides and enables me. This is, after all, the deep truth, the real truth. 


Yesterday, someone kindly said to my daughter Rachel in front of me, "How are your parents going to afford four more children? Your mom doesn't work! Your dad is going to have to work 6 days a week!" In those moments, it often feels like the world slows down and waits for the answer. 


I'm telling you, God intervened and HIS words came out of my mouth...


"God called us to this and He will provide." And then I shared other areas, such as our son's college tuition, where God has provided. 


"You're right," she said. 


(I am?? I mean, I AM!)


These questions or challenges...and there were more...make my heart beat faster and I am sure at times make my face turn red. There ARE challenges ahead, big ones! I am as prone to fear (maybe more so actually) as anyone else. I have to purposely lay those things down (over and over and over...and over again), fight through fear with faith, and put on the armor of God. 


I am finding POWER and FAITH in PROCLAIMING the truth. 


It won't be MY strength, but HIS.
Not MY love, but HIS.
Not MY patience, but HIS.
Not MY endurance, but HIS.
Not my HUSBAND'S provision, but my GOD'S.


Not MY will, but HIS be done. 


Here's the other thing I shared to this dear one (not knowing what she even believes about God)...


If I only do the things I can reasonably do, then I will never see God moving in my life. The more I do things bigger than me (for Him, of course) , the more clearly I see God moving and acting...


Those who know me best and know the me who won't even go camping, KNOW that this has to be God moving in me because I wouldn't NORMALLY choose to live in a third world country for 3-5 months!  I don't NORMALLY run after *the hard*. 


All glory belongs to God. When I am challenged I don't need to prove myself, but proclaim my God who is THE GOD. 


In the end, it turned into a beautiful conversation with this woman about the power of God. She was receptive and shared herself areas where she has seen God at work in her own life. God showed me a power lesson...


"Teach me your way, Lord,
that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.

I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever.
For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me from the depths,
from the realm of the dead." Psalm 86:11-13