Chris and I have prayed for months about the country. We were leaning toward Hungary for most of the time but just couldn't commit. Then, in September China opened a special program that interested us. We prayed and nothing seemed clear...both were good choices...both have plenty of children who still need families. (One thing I've learned in this process is that there are so many countries---many, many I've never heard of or can pronounce---who have children needing families. All are good choices.) Well, it was just time to make a decision. You can only go so far in the process without choosing a country.
Chris went on a men's retreat for the weekend with our church and said he would pray and ask the men to pray, also. I would pray and soul search, too, and when he returned we would decide. We had also prayed for like minds upon his return.
That week in my Bible study (Isaiah 7), God had sent Isaiah, His prophet, to King Ahaz of Judah. In His mercy and grace He was going to give unbelieving, unfaithful Ahaz a sign to prove He is God Almighty. Through Isaiah, God told Ahaz to ask Him for a sign....anything....and God would give it to him. Ahaz disobeyed and did not ask God for a sign, saying he wasn't going to "test God." But, he wouldn't have been testing God, because God told him to ask. Throughout that week the study questions talked about signs from God. What was testing and what was not? What I got from this was that if you truly don't know, you're truly seeking God's will and you're willing to do what He says....it's not testing. I thought God was saying to me....ask Me for a sign. So, Saturday night while Chris was at the retreat, I asked God to speak through the preacher the next morning the name of one of the countries in any way. He could talk about being hungry or eating off china plates...just mention the name.
Chris got home Sunday morning as we were leaving for church so we didn't talk about countries. We would wait till we got home. That morning as the preacher was giving a story illustration he mentioned how the US women's soccer team beat the CHINA women's team. Did I hear that right???? Did he just say CHINA??? Yes. I had my answer. No one knew my prayer for a sign. I didn't tell anyone until afterward. When we got home from church, Chris said, "I think China." I said, the pastor spoke "China." Like minds. How good is God!!!
I'm sorry to say that the next day I questioned, "Did God really say that to me or was it coincidence?" But I asked for a sign, and He gave me one....I already had the confirmation from Chris. To ask again would be testing. Sometimes it's just hard to believe that the Creator of the universe, the Lord Almighty, the Holy One would hear from me...one who breaks His heart...one out of so many on this great big planet...But thankfully by His mercy and grace, one who is forgiven and adopted into His family...all by the blood of Christ. God cares for each one of His children.
"And His mercy is on them that fear Him from generation to generation." Luke 1:50
"For this God is our God forever and ever: He will be our guide even unto death." Psalm 48:14
He is full of mercy and grace, and He still speaks!
Chris and I said this should have been our first sign....
While on vacation in September we jokingly said Hunter was digging a shortcut to China...maybe we should adopt from there??? :)
