A Time for Everything

"There's an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth:

A right time for birth and another for death,
A right time to plant and another to reap,
A right time to kill and another to heal,
A right time to destroy and another to construct,
A right time to cry and another to laugh,
A right time to lament and another to cheer,
A right time to make love and another to abstain,
A right time to embrace and another to part,
A right time to search and another to count your losses,
A right time to hold on and another to let go,
A right time to rip out and another to mend,
A right time to shut up and another to speak up,
A right time to love and another to hate,
A right time to wage war and another to make peace.
But in the end, does it really make a difference what anyone does? I've had a good look at what God has given us to do—busywork, mostly. True, God made everything beautiful in itself and in its time—but he's left us in the dark, so we can never know what God is up to, whether he's coming or going. I've decided that there's nothing better to do than go ahead and have a good time and get the most we can out of life. That's it—eat, drink, and make the most of your job. It's God's gift. I've also concluded that whatever God does, that's the way it's going to be, always. No addition, no subtraction. God's done it and that's it. That's so we'll quit asking questions and simply worship in holy fear. Whatever was, is. Whatever will be, is. That's how it always is with God."   Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 (The Message)

As 2010 comes to a close, I have had some time to lament (I always wanted to use that word!) and praise God for all the wonderful things He has done for our family; where he has taken us; the many blessings he has given to us; the friendships he has given; the burdens he continues to place on our hearts.

It has been a great year watching our little man grow up - right before our eyes. The obstacles he has over come, the strides he has made. He has gone from a baby who could barely breathe when he was born, to a very talkative, inquisitive, bike riding little bundle of energy and doesn't forget a single thing. He knows his full name; he knows daddy's name is Will, and mommy's name is Kristin. And he says he loves us without any prompts. We are very blessed to be given the gift of this child to raise for our Lord.

As God grows our family through the wonderful gift of adoption, we continue to prepare for our little one in Ethiopia. It was quite a year! I remember last year at Christmas we were doing paperwork and hoping, that just maybe, we'd have a referral by Christmas this year. We had a close one...but in the end, God had another plan. I quit asking "why so close, God?" and instead turned that question into praise and worship to our Lord who sets the lonely in families. He brought us close...our hearts wide open (and a little vulnerable?) ready to welcome this special child into our family. But it wasn't our time. It was another family's time and we thank God for that family and pray for them as they welcome this precious child into their family. We celebrate the forever family created by God's design. It's not about us anyway...it's all about HIM.

The Lord has brought us together with other local families who have/are adopting from Ethiopia. I am amazed at how he brings us all together...we get together and glorify God! We are blessed by our new friends and when we get together, you'd think we've been friends since kindergarten! We met for coffee and stayed so late, we actually got kicked out of Panera! We said it felt like a first date, no one wanted to leave and go home. They are close to bringing home their kids, and we are planning family get togethers and play groups for our kids and families so we can create an Ethiopian adoption community right here! We are so excited!

Passion1.27 has grown by leaps and bounds and continues to grow! I am excited to see where God is going to be taking the ministry in 2011. We have a terrific team and I am thankful for all they did last year to help the ministry. I am most thankful for Kelly. Kelly is a wonderful new friend who also shares a burdened heart for orphans. She is an adoptive momma too (and I can't for wait for adoptive momma's retreat in February!) and God has brought us together in such an awesome way. Together, we are working to be the hands and feet of Jesus through our personal lives as well as Passion1.27 and help educate families on adoption and orphan care. Everyone is called to do something - maybe not everyone is called to adopt, but there is something that everyone can do. Pop over to Passion1.27 and you can find some things to do too!

So as the Christmas tree comes down, the ornaments and decorations are stored away for another year, and as we close 2010, we keep the manger scene visible and look forward to all the ways we will serve God and bring him glory in 2011. We know that God is full of opportunities and blessings - we are his kids, and he loves to give us gifts. We know we have already been given the greatest gift of our lives. Which reminds me of this old David Meece song (I gave my age away now!)  Anyway, I searched and searched for a decent recording of it to share...this is the best I could find before Ethan starts kindergarten!


David Meece - We Are the Reason from Adam Brewer on Vimeo.


I am excited to see what God has waiting for us in the new year - our lives are his story - for his glory and I can't wait to see what is in store. We wait for God's perfect timing for our little one to join our family. Yes, we get anxious at times - but when we get anxious, I will look back to the passage above - and remember that whatever was is, whatever will be, is... because that's how God is. And we worship while we wait.