Beautiful Adoption

Hello friends,
So we are about to enter into another grand adventure. Will you come along with us? ...

We are following the Lord once again into adoption.

Beautiful Adoption! 

"(God) chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will..." Ephesians :4-5

We have been praying over this for over a year now and trusting that God's timing is always perfect. We originally considered adopting this time from Uganda. We found an agency to work with and started the process, but the Lord closed that door when the agency's Uganda program closed. We discovered the same happening at several agencies we contacted. Why? When so many Ugandan children still desperately need families to love them? I don't have answers to that, but I know that God has not forgotten them. 

Lord, I know your heart is for the orphan...

"But You have seen, for You observe trouble and grief, ... You are the helper of the fatherless." Psalm 10:14

And I do know that... God's plans for our family, the country He has chosen for us, the child(ren) He intends to place in our hearts, and every step He wants to take us through, are perfectly orchestrated for His purposes. We have seen His faithful hand at work in our first adoption, and we are choosing to trust Him. We don't know the country, but we have decided to remain open until we are further along in the process. We wondered for a while if He might lead us to a domestic adoption and oh boy friends, is there ever a need right here in our own land! Is that you whose heart He is tugging on? We are praying for you! As His plans continue to unfold, we will share more. He knows the plans He has for us! 

"I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you." John 14:18

Shared from my heart ~ Stacy
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Hearts Softened to the Light of Christ

Summer sunshine warming through the depths of me. The brightness shining down upon my waking face. Oh how I love to bask in the light. What a glorious God we have to show us just a glimpse of His unfathomable depths within the tangible created things of this world. Our Creator whose fire is too much to look upon. The light of Christ reaching down to bring this world out of darkness. The warmth and power of His Spirit fully present in our hearts.

For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 2Corinthians 4:6

The fire, the light, and the warming energy of the sun. Three in one. I don't propose to belittle our God by wrapping Him up in the small package of our world's sunshine. But I LOVE that God uses the created things of this world to help us understand Him just a little better. So that when my eyes take in His truth...

But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let them go. Exodus 10:27

and I ponder how that can be so, for my God is a God of love and grace. He shows me through these pictures; these parables; these real and concrete things that I can see and feel in this physical life, that there is no discrepancy in His Word. My God of Love does indeed harden hearts, just as the sunlight hardens clay. And He softens hearts just as the fire melts my candle's wax. He simply shines his light upon us, and allows the heat to produce the natural outcome of the substance that is exposed to Him. What is the substance of our hearts?

But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him. Daniel 5:20

What makes the candle melt? Is it not the oil?

Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. 1Samuel 16:13

God's Spirit softens. Let us not deny His Spirit. Even this...

The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD. Psalm 97:5a

Lord, how I want to melt like wax in your presence. To be left with nothing but the oil of your Spirit within me.

And He replies...

If you then, though you are sinful, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! Luke 11:13

Have you asked Him friends?

(Originally shared at  Encourage365 )

Shared from my heart ~ Stacy
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And may I suggest a little weekend reading? ....

 My Friend David   Because I love her words... "my friend David, taught me that it's okay to be human."

He Is   Because I love her words... " I find myself asking the Spirit to fill my deflated lungs with who "He Is.""

 I Am Still... Stacey Wilson   Because I love her words... " I know who I am in Christ."!

Staying Steadfast

It's so easy to get sidetracked by this world's day to day activity, the distractions that arise as a busy mom and wife. Full lives being lived and time passing us by. But I don't want time to slip by and one day find myself far from the Lord and His Word. I'm recognizing the importance of abiding in Him. How very much I need His renewing love and grace every day. I know there is no formula for living this Christian life. It's a day by day, moment by moment choice to remain in Christ; in His will and in His grace. So what is the secret to staying in Him; staying steadfast? I can only share my thoughts... this closest thing to a formula that I can offer...  5 steps to take, daily.

Staying Steadfast:

1. Seek Him. Seek the Lord with your whole heart. Desire to know him more. Spend time with him, in his word, every day.

2. Study. There is so much truth within his Word. More than we can possibly grasp. But the only way we can even come close to understanding how great his love is for us, is to dig in deep to the truth of his word. Deeper. And deeper still. Don't settle for a shallow understanding, Study His Word.

3. Surrender. Christ taught that the attitude of our heart is what matters most. We can fill our head with information, but if we're not willing to accept his truth; to surrender our hearts to his will, then our knowledge means nothing. Choose to be fully his; willing to believe him, willing to trust him, willing to accept his will.

4. Be Still. Don't let the distractions of life keep you from spending time in the presence of God. Be still before Him, every day. Speak to him in prayer, worship him, and listen to his gentle whisper.

5. Be Spirit-led. Respond to his whisper. Our knowledge, our heart, and our actions need to match. We need even more than a surrendered heart, we need a surrendered life. One that is not easily distracted by the nature of our flesh, but one that displays a humble obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit. The more we seek, study, surrender, and be still before him, the more strength we will receive to continue on the path he leads us.

Praying for your steadfast hearts my friends!

Shared from my heart ~ Stacy


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Linking with Darlene, Shanda, Courtney, and Jacqueline.