Many years ago, some friends had a family Bible that they asked us to sign. It was a super neat idea. Everyone would write their names next to their "life verse". I had several friends who had a life verse. They all sounded really great and spiritual and I felt the pressure to find mine. I don't remember what I picked. Clearly, it made an impact on my life! I'm sure it was something about persevering or running a good race or something from Ephesians 1. I wanted my life verse to reflect my level of spirituality. I wanted it to define me.
Well, God has given me a life verse. It's a verse that we teach our children. It's a simple verse. I remember singing it as a child to a cute little tune (actually, the tune haunts me when I don't want to dwell on this verse!). God has given this verse to me more than any other verse in His word.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him and he will direct your path."
It's pretty simple. I don't know anything. God knows everything. All I have to do is acknowledge Him and trust Him. He will lead me to where I need to go.
And yet, when Satan attacks me with those fiery darts, I turn to my self-pity and my worry. I turn to my desire to control my life. And all it does is leave me anxious and doubting God who has proven to me over and over again that He is my provider.
When I desperately wanted a baby and it just wouldn't happen.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him and he will direct your path."
God led us down a winding path, through times of waiting, past closed doors, through all the paperwork, to one adoption agency, to another adoption agency, and eventually to Jordan.
When we needed $5,000 to be able to finalize Jordan's adoption.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him and he will direct your path."
God gave us the perfect amount from two different places within days.
When we found out two days later that we needed another $5,000 to finalize. So discouraging! We didn't think there was any way that God could do it again.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him and he will direct your path."
I ended up sobbing in the frozen section at Homeland because I received a call that someone had walked in and paid our entire bill.
When we had to leave Baby Jake at the hospital with his birthmom.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him and he will direct your path."
We got to be a part of an amazing story and we had the opportunity to shower Baby Jake and his family with love by giving everything we had been given to them.
When we had two more losses. Two sweet baby girls we didn't get to bring home. I thought it was hopeless. I didn't understand. I was terrified to risk my heart again but I desperately wanted another child.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him and he will direct your path."
Less than two weeks later, I was staring at a positive pregnancy test. And God had blessed us with Marcus.
And here I am again. At a point where I am tired and frustrated with a situation. All we've done is wait. And all I want to do is take matters into my own hand. We are looking at what we thought was an answer to prayer and praying that it will be the answer we desire. And yet, there is a chance that we will have to move on and wait some more for God to provide. And I wonder, can He do it again?
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him and he will direct your path."
You would think I would learn my lesson! And in the waiting, I am fighting to take my thoughts captive and dwell on the truth that God has hammered into my heart over and over and over. And by the looks of it, this will be a life-long lesson.
Well, God has given me a life verse. It's a verse that we teach our children. It's a simple verse. I remember singing it as a child to a cute little tune (actually, the tune haunts me when I don't want to dwell on this verse!). God has given this verse to me more than any other verse in His word.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him and he will direct your path."
It's pretty simple. I don't know anything. God knows everything. All I have to do is acknowledge Him and trust Him. He will lead me to where I need to go.
And yet, when Satan attacks me with those fiery darts, I turn to my self-pity and my worry. I turn to my desire to control my life. And all it does is leave me anxious and doubting God who has proven to me over and over again that He is my provider.
When I desperately wanted a baby and it just wouldn't happen.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him and he will direct your path."
God led us down a winding path, through times of waiting, past closed doors, through all the paperwork, to one adoption agency, to another adoption agency, and eventually to Jordan.
When we needed $5,000 to be able to finalize Jordan's adoption.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him and he will direct your path."
God gave us the perfect amount from two different places within days.
When we found out two days later that we needed another $5,000 to finalize. So discouraging! We didn't think there was any way that God could do it again.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him and he will direct your path."
I ended up sobbing in the frozen section at Homeland because I received a call that someone had walked in and paid our entire bill.
When we had to leave Baby Jake at the hospital with his birthmom.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him and he will direct your path."
We got to be a part of an amazing story and we had the opportunity to shower Baby Jake and his family with love by giving everything we had been given to them.
When we had two more losses. Two sweet baby girls we didn't get to bring home. I thought it was hopeless. I didn't understand. I was terrified to risk my heart again but I desperately wanted another child.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him and he will direct your path."
Less than two weeks later, I was staring at a positive pregnancy test. And God had blessed us with Marcus.
And here I am again. At a point where I am tired and frustrated with a situation. All we've done is wait. And all I want to do is take matters into my own hand. We are looking at what we thought was an answer to prayer and praying that it will be the answer we desire. And yet, there is a chance that we will have to move on and wait some more for God to provide. And I wonder, can He do it again?
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him and he will direct your path."
You would think I would learn my lesson! And in the waiting, I am fighting to take my thoughts captive and dwell on the truth that God has hammered into my heart over and over and over. And by the looks of it, this will be a life-long lesson.
