All things work together for good.....

Only having two weeks to finalize everything presents...... well lots of challenges. As I write this tonight I am thinking about the fact that I have been so wrong. I have been thinking in terms of OUR adoption journey. Not so. A journey it surely is, along the way are many hills and valley to be sure. They course is never easy- which goes a long way towards explaining why so few are willing to travel down this road. At the end of this path are 148 million children who need a home and a family. Think of that, 148 million. The enemy of ur LORD is intimately aware of that number - 148 million. While in my reflection about this number I cry bitter tears for all the children who wait and hope that somewhere there is a family for even them, someone who will fill that deep hollow empty place in their hearts that longs for the love of a family. But the enemy of our LORD, he laughs, he taunts and he scoughs at these little one - lying to them, he tell them there is no one who loves you, no one who wants you. And like me these 148 million little ones weep bitter tears in their despair.

The enemy knows what he is about. He lays up snares and traps along the way for any who would dare to start down the road towards adoption of one of these - whom our LORD called "the least of these" in Matthew's gospel. Betty and I have now been on this path for more than 4 years and have been subjected to many of the traps and attacks of the enemy of our LORD. The enemy knows that in that day that even one of the 148 million children finds a home where they can learn the good news of the gosple of Jesus - he looses the battle for their eternal soul. If you are reading this and are considering adoption- do not be afraid because greater is our LORD than he who is in the world. We serve a LORD of victory not a lord of defeate. 

4 years on this path and we are not yet at the end of our journey. Yes, we have reached milestones along the way, but have further yet to go. Tonight I want you to know that you like Christian from The Pilgrim's Progress can reach the end of your journey if you stay the course. Along the way are many obstacles waiting to convince you to take an easier way. You will surely (as we have ) come face to face with doubt. These doubts cry out to you things like:

The process is to difficult
The monitary cost is too high
You are too old or maybe too young
You already have too many children
The little ones you adopt might have flaws and imperfections ( I have these - do you?)
There are so many other lies the enemy tells just like these

If you are steadfast and do  not give in to the doubts, then you face the stark reality of the mountains of papers you must compile to send your dossier to some remote corner of the world- or maybe you will send all of your paperwork across your own town to your local social services organization. You can accomplish it- the task is defeated by filling in one blank at a time - one page at a time - one notary at a time, one apostille at a time. Paper an ink are no match to the Creater of the Universe. He WILL empower you to get it done.

Then the wating begins, and the enemy will whisper in your ear- you will never get a referal. This lie is spoken in a barely audible whisper- over and over and over. Recognize it IS a lie, the referral will come. When you are faithful to God's call to be a father to the fatherless, He will honor this and bless you with the referral according to His perfect timing. Do not grow weary of the wait. He has only the best in mid for you. It will come, and in that moment your heart will sing out with a great joy. Keep waiting.

Just when you thought the worst was behind you - completing your dossier. You are faced with all the paperwork and actions that come between your referral and your travel date. It will seem overwhelming- it always does. It did to us and it will to you. Persevere, you are almost there. The enemy will not give up at this point, he will attack and attack. The plane reservations may be difficult to secure, your travel visas may elude you, unexpected cost will asail you. Persever, these attacks are not a surprise to our LORD, and He gives you all that you need and more to overcome them and to finish the course.

One day your "Gotcha day" WILL arrive, let me say that again the day WILL arrive. In that moment there will be an emotional tidal wave that will overwhelm you, enjoy that moment. Only those who have experience it will completely understand. After the Gotcha day comes the first year. Be ready- it will not be easy. There will be days filled with joys unspeakable, abd there will be days filled with unxepected challenges. You will get through it and I dare to even say you will ultimately charish these days- even with the challenges.

In only a week we will hold in our arms Anyi and Jose. Our LORD is allowing us to steward them on His behalf  for a little while. As I said in the begining of this post, tonight I am thinking I have been so wrong about the journey. As I prepare to leave for Cali Colombia, my LORD impresses on my heart this has not been my journey after all. Every minute and every step this has actually been His journey, as unworthy as I am, He has blessed me with the priviledge of riding along with Him.