GOD FINISHES WHAT HE STARTS!

Thursday, we got the invoice from our agency for the remaining balance to be paid to them ASAP.  I looked at the total...$12,050  I knew we had money in our adoption account but I also knew it wasn't this much.  I am embarrassed to confess after the AMAZING, MIRACULOUS, ways God has provided, I began to get anxious!  Brian was out of town so I didn't talk to him about it, I just forwarded the invoice to him.  Yesterday, Brian sent me an email.  It said there was a mix up in some funds and our account actually has $12,456!!!  WOW!  I am BLOWN away!  God is so incredibly faithful!  

That's not all our incredible news either!!!  A little over a week ago we got an amazing email from a precious 10 year old boy.  He gave us $100 of his own money and then proceeded to write an email to his friends and family requesting that they match his gift.  His dad sent us this email: 

"It's sure been a pleasure to watch this unfold - both the adventure of this most recent adoption for you and the adventure of our boys taking it on as something of their own. I just wanted to send a quick note to say that we've shared the story and Bridger's response has been completely of his own making. What a cool thing to watch a 10 year old do. Caid has had a very emotive response all his own. He can't believe that any force in the world would be horrible enough to try to separate siblings and vowed at one meal he would NEVER let that happen. It's been a really cool deal. We're praying for you and your whole clan - the new ones too. If there's anything else we can do, let us know."
 

 How humbling it is to be part of the body of Christ and to be loved on and supported by SO many incredible people.  Today I read this "Daily Hope" by Rick Warren and it was so perfect for our week, I thought I would share!  Thank you for your love, prayers and support!!  PRAISE JESUS!

Philippians 1:6 says, “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (NIV). What God starts, he finishes. Where God guides, he provides. And where God leads, he meets our needs. But he’s going to test you first, because there is no testimony without a test. God tells us to remember to remember. Often in the Bible, God had people create a memorial so they’d never forget what he taught them. The idea of creating a stone of remembrance comes from the book of Joshua. Right after the Israelites crossed the Jordan River and were going into the Promised Land, God had them create a memorial to remember what he had done for them. Each person picked a stoned and used it to build a memorial. In the future, when their children asked what the stones meant, the Israelites could explain that they were a reminder of God’s faithfulness to the children of Israel.
If you were to build a memorial, what would you want to remember? What would it stand for? What do you want to make sure you don’t forget? It’s not the things that matter — your job, your house, your salary, or your accomplishments. You are God’s legacy, and your legacy is made up of the moments that made a difference for God’s Kingdom, the relationships that had eternal significance, and the ways you worshipped the Savior.  I invite you to pray a prayer of remembrance right now. Say these words back to God in your heart: “Father, I remember right now the love of Jesus. Thank you for the miracles you’ve worked in my life. God, help me to remember your grace and to be gracious. I remember your generosity toward me. I ask you for the strength to be generous toward others. I trust that you will be with me, and I trust that you will finish what you have started in me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Yesterday was a sad day... it was our little M’s 3rd birthday and all I could think about all day was... she doesn’t get a cake, she doesn’t even get a present!  Will anyone even tell her happy birthday or how much they love her or how happy they are that she was born three years ago today?  My heart is aching because I want to do ALL those things for her.  I want to make a cake and give her presents, but more than anything I want to hold her in my arms and tell her that I am so grateful that God brought her into this world and that He allowed me to be her mommy.

We also got news yesterday that there are enormous issues on the U.S. Embassy side of things.  Right now, they are saying there is more than a two month back log before the 3-6 month period they are saying it is taking.  Notice I said it is the UNITED STATES EMBASSY in the DRC.  Not the DRC Embassy.  I am sick at the thought of our girls (and all the other kids) waiting, because the U.S. doesn’t have enough workers to get these adoptions processed and get the kiddos home with their families!

We DO know that God is much bigger than all of this and He has shown us over and over in the last couple of months that He has it ALL under control!  Please join us in praying for miracles!!  That things will get straightened out and that we would be approved to get our girls in record time!  We are ready to go get our girls!!!  On a happy note, I found some party dresses that they definitely NEEDED – Brian agrees 100% :).  Thank you for praying that we will be holding them in our arms SOON!!

Luke 18:27 Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”

Our son Dylon came home from school and handed this envelope to us.  His little buddy in his 3rd grade class brought it, filled with his hard earned money to help us bring our girls home.  We are utterly blown away by these precious kiddos and their hearts for others.  That they would care so deeply about our sweet little girls half way across the world is simply amazing.  Thank you all for your love and support!  It has me in tears daily!!

God just keeps continuing to show us that He has a plan and that He is going to accomplish it, even using these precious kiddos.  We are humbled and SO encouraged that so many of you have chosen to join us in our adventure!

How do believers develop this kind of childlike faith? Risk! Hear the word, obey the word and trust Him for the outcome. Pastor Cho, leader of the largest church in the world in Sol Korea, shares his church growth methodology by saying, “I pray and I obey, Ha, Ha, Ha” Western analytical thinking wants to understand first, then act. In the Kingdom, the reverse is true. When it comes to spiritual growth, hear His voice, act; then understanding will come. Faith comes by hearing the word--the last word spoken and the current word.
- See more at: http://www.sharefaith.com/guide/christian-principles/approaching-jesus-as-little-children/approaching-jesus-as-little-children-childlike-faith.html#sthash.pS2696vm.dpuf