Evidence of God's Grace, part 2

"Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways, so that we may walk in His paths."  --Micah 4:2



 

pics taken in 2005 in Aspen, CO

This weekend I was privileged to meet another family who has been down this path of adoption....adoption from China in fact. Their daughter who is now 12 is going back to China this summer for the first time since she was adopted 11 years ago. Wow! It is amazing to me how God is placing more and more people in our lives who have also travelled this road. And...I think the "road" is one of the main parts of this.

I've learned so much about God during this process...how He loves us; how He shows us that love in mercy and grace; how His hand is in the small details; how He comforts and encourages this not so confident mom that He hears my prayers and that His grace abounds when mine does not. Sometimes, with all the overwhelming paperwork and waiting for this and that, I get discouraged. But, God is so good. That's when His grace flows down. He sends me some encouragement.

I had the great blessing of chatting with a special friend from San Antonio not too long ago. She and her family were the first friends the Knox family had when we moved to TX. Alexandra met the oldest daughter of the family at Bible Study Fellowship the first few days we were in TX and found out they were home-schoolers as well...first person she met = God's grace. That sweet family introduced us to our home school group, many friends and our fabulous church. (Wayside Chapel--just in case you're ever in San Antonio and looking for a church to visit) They have five beautiful, biological children, and since we've been in Tennessee, they have been traveling the adoption road as well. It was such a treat to talk with her. She confirmed something I had been thinking of as well by saying, "I have learned so much about God. My relationship with Him has grown so much...just because we have followed Him down this path. I still pray that if this isn't His will that He would close the door of adoption to us. In my heart of hearts, of course, I hope we end up with a child, but I never would have know Him like this if we hadn't followed Him into adoption." Wow! That's just exactly what I was thinking! Just another bit of evidence of His grace....another mom echoing my heart.

Sometimes this path is scary, exciting, confusing, heartbreaking, challenging, joyful, discouraging, heart-filling... all rolled in together; but it's not lonely. God is here, and He is gracious enough to give me the gift of others who have gone before me or those who are also on their adoption journey. Thank You, Jesus!

"But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved."

Ephesians 2:4-5

Evidence of His Grace

"When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts." Acts 11:23

Thank You, Father, for the grace you rain down on me.

Pics from Christmas Day...

This Christmas was extra special. First time in our new home. A blanket of snow covered everything. An unexpected gift. The gift actually came a little after Christmas because of the snow...it delayed family. Chris' mom had let us know that she had a surprise and that we would like it. We thought it was something she got....a new car, a cat...we just didn't know. Well, it wasn't a car or a cat. When she arrived, she handed us an envelope and told us it was from a friend of her coworker...someone we had never met. Someone she had never met. The friend had heard about us adopting when Ann shared our blog with her coworker, and the friend wanted to help. Inside the envelope was a few hundred dollars! Wow! Chris and I just looked at each other in disbelief, and, of course, I got teary. Whether she knew it or not, whether she's a believer in the Lord Jesus or not, God had used her to bless us! Someone who never met us! This surprise was evidence of God's grace. God's grace is still so amazing to me!

You see, most people who check into international adoption end up not adopting because of the cost. I have to admit that was my first thought...how can we do this? We don't have that much money. Will we ever have it? My mom asked me, "Out of all the adoption stories you have heard, how many have been about someone not going through with it because of money?" I said, "None. It's always how God has provided. How miraculously He has provided." I say all this to encourage those of you who have considered adopting but are concerned about coming up with the money. I've been there, and sometimes I still go there...but not for long because God shows us evidence of His grace. Money is nothing to the Creator.