Faith

Being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see....Heb. 11:1
Faith is George Mueller, father to many orphans, sitting down to a set table with his 'orphan' family to wait for their food, trusting God will bring it.
Faith is expecting God's promises.
Faith is expecting.
Expecting from God, waiting on Him, knowing that He is there and able.
Faith is trusting Him.  Trusting Him with your time, talents, abilities, desires, hopes, dreams, family, future, finances.....trusting...relying on Him.
Trust, according to the dictionary...

1. Firm reliance on the integrity, ability, or character of a person or thing.
2. Custody; care.
3. Something committed into the care of another; charge.
4. To have or place reliance or confidence in...
5. To expect with assurance; assume: I trust that you will be on time.
6. To believe: I trust what you say.
7. To place in the care of another; entrust.

Listen again to #5: To expect with assurance; assume.  Expect with assurance.  Assurance means...full confident, freedom from doubt, certainty.

Expecting God with full assurance. Faith is to be so confident that you base your actions on what you believe.
Faith is a spiritual substance. When you have this spiritual substance in you, it communicates to you a certain inner knowing that the thing you are hoping for is certainly established, even before you see any material evidence that it has happened. Through faith we can know we have the answer to our prayer before we see anything change in the natural order (1 John 5:14,15).


Faith is a rest. It is compatible with inner peace. It is not "trying to believe". To say that you are "trying to believe" God is to say that you don't believe Him. The man who is "trying to believe" may be sincere, but he does not have faith in that area yet (http://www.christian-faith.com/forjesus/faith-in-God).

Jesus couldn't do miracles in a certain town because the people lacked faith.


There will be more blogs on faith as I can tell God is trying to build mine more!! :) 

Thinking about what fits best right now.

There are many thoughts and feelings in thinking about how God could and will use our marriage/family for His Glory.  The first question I get at times, when it comes to foster care....is 'how could I give so much care and time/invest so much into a child to let them go back to where they came from?'  Well, the answer is...that it is not about me. It would not be about us and what we would go through, it's about what that child needs in his/her life at that time. It's about being Jesus to her or him.  That's it.  It's about ministering to that family too if that is available and possible.  It's just about giving.  The question about adopting....what is possible in our lives at this moment?  Sometimes when we are praying for something - we need to look at what would be possible for this family at this time in our lives.  Not to say God can't do the IMPOSSIBLE, because He most definitely can.  However, what has He called us to at this point.  What is He asking me/us to have faith for??? 
In our lives, for example...we are still paying debt off and I (Mom) am working full time...and infant right now may not be an option, unless we want to pay exorbitant amount in daycare.  We can wait a little longer so that in the near future we will be in a better place me to go down to part time or no work outside the home in order to give the kind of care needed for an infant. 
Another thought, is that we have 3 kids in the home right now and thinking of what kind of room we have in bedrooms for more children is a thought.  What age would work best in our family right now....and most of all---What does God have for us right now? 
Also, this is about our family, but first about our marriage.  It's about what we decide to do as a married couple to give and bless others.  It's about Him using our marriage for His glory. Marriage is not designed to be a place where I selfishly get what I want.  It's about working together to bless the other person, expecting nothing in return. It's about a safe place for those that visit.  It's about a loving home that has open arms willing to give. He says people will know we are His disciples by our love. 
We desire our children to be loving and accepting and giving to others as well...however, we will not let that determine our giving.  We desire and pray for the Lord to prepare our children for those that come to live with them.  I was praying the other day...expressing to the Lord my hesitancy and fears related to some of the reluctance I noticed in a couple of my children.  I was asking the Lord about this and wondering about how this would affect them, not wanting them to have hangups or become bitter, etc.....and I heard the Lord clearly say..."How else will they learn my compassion towards others if they do not see it modeled in your life?"  Peace.  Since then the phrase, "How else will they know my love?" keeps ringing over and over in my mind.  May we all ask ourselves that question and allow the Lord to make us more selfless and more giving.  May we allow God to let us get our hands dirty in helping others.  May we get so involved we do cry, we do laugh and we do hurt as well.  Then we will know we are being used, we are being His hands and feet to the world.  Most of all, it is not about us.

Knocking

 

1. Knock on doors....meaning, it's time to ask questions.  

2. Schedule time with friends that have adopted before me.  

3. Time to blanket this in prayer. 

4. Time to trust.

Thoughts on parenting.

I have always loved children! I love having them... I love other people's children... I love the teachable spirit of children.  I love that God teaches us about Himself through children. I love seeing Jesus in a child.  Over the years its been a little trying when my kids have shown me my flaws and when I see they can be more patient than me!  Its quite humbling actually to be a parent.  It was also huge when I first realized how vulnerable my children are and how much impact I really have on them! I have found myself asking, how can God trust ME with this sweet, precious child.  Am I going to mess him up? [Look at me, I don't have it all together.]  How in the world do I do this?!  This is just where I realized how much patience and grace God has for me. 

His grace is being shown in immeasurable ways to me lately.  God is not looking for perfection.  He is not looking for me to have it all together. He is looking for a willing heart and willing hands.  He says to go out into the world and be ME [Jesus] to others.  Let me love them through you.  All the bumps and turns in the road are going to bring out His purpose in me and others.  When there is a problem or an issue, guess what?  It will be used to bring me or others closer to Him.  If that problem was not there how can we know what to work on or how to grow closer to the Lord?  He says to rejoice in our trials. I have known that verse for over 30 years and just this past week had to pray it again and choose to rejoice all over again!  Isn't that like our Lord, continuing to shape us and challenge us?  The times of refreshment come when we sit before Him, listening and waiting.  Those are the times to savor. The times to reflect on remembering His presence.  His peace. 

We can have that peace anytime.  Anytime we rest in Him and remember His promises. In the middle of a busy, noisy mommy moment trying to feed her infant and 2 year old at the same time.  In the middle of an argument with her teenager about some serious topic that she worst fears, etc.  His rest is always there and always available to you. 

His rest is in the fact that He knows the future.  He knows the future of our lives.  He knows the trials and the joys to come!  He knows that it shakes me a little to consider adopting a child.  He knows.  He knows what I've been through and the fears that come up at times.  He knows that He is growing my faith again.  He knows that I have to trust Him in this.  He knows that He has called us to the hands and feet of Jesus.  He knows that I am convinced I am His and this is His life - not mine.  He knows that I will wait on Him. He knows that He is going to teach me more about Himself through a child again.  He knows that He will love the child or children through me.  He knows that I am willing to be used.  He knows there are children waiting.  He knows there are children waiting to be loved.  Of any trial or bump in the road that may come, He is BIG enough! He is big enough and all He calls me to do is rejoice in Him and in the trials.  That is all He calls me to do.  REJOICE!......and let Him Love through me. 

Winter Hope

 

As the Cardinal trusts God for his food during the cold, barren winter, I trust God today. 

Chirch Notes Begins!

This is the beginning of Chirch Notes!  My daughter has been asking me to start a blog and I can find time to write!  So here it is!  This will probably be a blog about life happenings, thoughts, reflections, moments with God, family dreams and whatever else!  So.... as I finally thought of the name- Chirch Notes begins! I will post soon! :)