Uncovering Beauty, Embracing Brokenness, Discovering Joy.
“You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
Psalms 16:11 NKJV
My joy is not found in the absence of troubles but in a deep assurance that God is always near.
My joy is found not only on the mountain tops of life but in the mundane, stress filled, weary moments, the dark valleys, the uncertain waiting.
[Read more…] about Joy for the Journey
I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”
Psalm 121:1-8 NIV
God first planted the desire to adopt in my heart nearly fourteen years ago in a small village orphanage in Ukraine. I spent only a few hours of a ten day mission trip there. Even so, during this brief encounter, my heart broke and I was left forever changed.
[Read more…] about Hope on the Horizon
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4 NIV
Today my heart is heavy. Just this morning I found out that one of my closest friends is grieving over the loss of a loved one. Her and her family are entering a deep, dark valley. Words do not seem enough for a time like this. The darkness too deep, the pain insurmountable.
In my darkened room, I sat and cried for all that is to come for her and her family in this valley. It was early morning and my children were awake and energetic as ever. There was a stark contrast between my grieving and their joyful banter. My littlest son’s voice booming loud. He was singing a song He learned at our church’s day camp last week. Over and over he repeated,
“There’s no greater power than the power of our God!”
[Read more…] about No Greater Power
For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Isaiah 41:13 NIV
There is a small yet important part of my life that few know much about. Many times it is only because it is difficult to find the words to express this portion of my life. I tuck it away, compartmentalize it and try my best to live life apart from what I experience, what I see. Even so, this part of me can not fully be pushed aside, placed into a neat and tidy box. Sometimes it spills over and overwhelms me.
[Read more…] about Why I am a Pediatric Oncology Nurse
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. John 15:1-4
During this season of waiting God is at work. This work is slow but steady and not so easy to see. He is working from the inside out. More on the internal than anything external.
He is pruning, cutting away the dead, unhealthy ideas and patterns rooted deep in my heart. He is revealing areas in my life, in our family life, that need to be removed in order to make room for new growth and abundant life. He continues to cultivate and bring clarity to who He created me to be. Instructing my heart to lean into Him more and live fully into the gifts and strengths He has given me.
[Read more…] about Abide in Me
“The best things in life are nearest:
Breath in your nostrils,
light in your eyes,
flowers at your feet,
duties at your hand,
the path of right just before you.
Then do not grasp at the stars,
but do life’s plain, common work as it comes,
certain that daily duties and daily bread
are the sweetest things in life.”
~ Robert Louis Stevenson
My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
2 Corinthians 12:9
Through our adoption journey God is revealing many areas of weakness in me. I feel like an onion with its many layers. Instead of peeling one layer at a time and revealing a weakness God desires to strengthen, He is slicing me wide open.
Frankly, like slicing an onion, this process is tearfully painful and it stinks. Even so, I know that it is for my benefit. It is essential for my growth. I am being strengthened for the season that is to come.
[Read more…] about Stinky Onion
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
Isaiah 43:19 NIV
Robert and I have been praying that God would begin to create heart connections for each of our children with their soon to be sister. Ways to help them in deeply connecting with and fully accepting her as their own.
Since praying this prayer we have begun to see God at work in each of our children’s hearts in remarkable ways. In our home we refer to her as simply, “sister”. She has no face or name as of yet although she holds a very tender, sweet place in our family.
[Read more…] about Heart Connections
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