Joy Comes in the Morning

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning. Psalm 30:5

This verse was in my head when I woke up this morning.  We spent time quietly, praying together last night. And then as we were lying in bed, lights off, talking softly, we prayed once more.  Will also said something to me...he asked if I remembered what happened a few weeks ago at church.  He had left his seat during the praise and worship time and went forward to the alter railing and knelt down to pray.  Just him...praying before the Lord while everyone else in the church sang out praise.  He came back to his seat, eyes moist.  I didn't ask him anything. I had a feeling I already knew what he was praying for.

After the service, he was talking with some friends, and a friend of ours who is part of the worship team found Will and said, I have to tell you something.  He said this hasn't happened before, and it may not make any sense at all.. He said it was the strangest, but coolest thing and the first time it's ever happened to him! He said God wants you to know, He has heard your prayer.  Will later told me about this conversation and we both had tears just rolling.

Then, if you remember a couple of posts ago when Dave was praying and God gave him two things for me... Patience and 2. 

Will reminded me of these two things as we were going to bed. He said, God was telling us a couple of weeks ago and preparing us for what is happening right now, at this moment in our journey.  Telling us that he hears our prayers, that we are to be patient while he works, and that he will complete our family.

I was awake at 2am (putting the little guy back to bed after walking into our room) and I stayed awake until around 3:30am.  All I could do was pray and give Thanksgiving to God.  I prayed for the children, for the situation, for the governments, for the agencies for the families....I prayed for God's will to be done.  I thanked God for everything that he has given to us - I thanked him for this journey and for these trials and these moments that are so uncertain. I thanked him for setting the lonely in families and for what he continues to do for the fatherless. I thanked him for the families who have stepped out in faith and out of their comfort zone and said yes to adoption.  It is far from easy...ask anyone who is/has traveled the road. I thanked him for the loved ones and family who are supporting us and other families and walking this road along side us.

I read my morning devotion:
"At dawn the next morning the angels became insistent. 'Hurry,' they said to Lot. 'Take your wife and your two daughters who are here. Get out right now, or you will be swept away in the destruction of the city!' "When Lot still hesitated, the angels seized his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters and rushed them to safety outside the city, for the LORD was merciful. When they were safely out of the city, one of the angels ordered, 'Run for your lives! And don't look back or stop anywhere in the valley! Escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away!' "[Lot] looked out across the plain toward Sodom and Gomorrah and watched as columns of smoke rose from the cities like smoke from a furnace." Genesis 19:15-17, 28

Encouragement for today
The angels warned Lot and told him exactly what to do to escape destruction. Elsewhere in Scripture, God always warned his people before he rained judgment. It was then up to his people to obey and live (like Lot), or disobey and die (like Lot's wife).  It's the same now. Scripture offers plenty of warnings and instruction as to what the way of life is (essentially, to trust in Jesus). When we obey, we put ourselves on that path of life.


                            —Diane Eble, author of Abundant Gifts: A Daybook of Grace-Filled Devotions

God spoke to both Will and I BEFORE all of this happened.  He knows us and how we could take the news about what's happening... he spoke to each of us and we realized last night that he was preparing us for just this time and what he wants us to do...trust him...be patient... and it all makes complete sense.

Joy has come today. Joy because though the situation is not improving at this time - (I just got an email from our case worker and there is still going to be a meeting to discuss this further, but we won't hear anything until next week) - the Lord is on his throne and he is sovereign.   And he told me this morning, while I was blow drying my hair, that it's going to be ok and it will all work out.  So I will obey and have patience...and listen to him and block out the outside world and what the enemy wants to say, and focus only on what the Lord is saying.

Two songs came to me too today...and I want to share them because no matter what the situation, be it adoption, parenting, marriage, job, financial... these two songs speak to everyone and I want to share them with you too and hope that it offers some encouragement if encouragement is  needed.



And this one...


Please continue to lift up God's children in Ethiopia and all around the world; all children without a forever family.  Also for the situation in Ethiopia - and for the families who are in the process of starting their adoption journey. I pray Oh Lord, that all of us families would use this time to continue to educate ourselves, and be better prepared for bringing your children home...no matter what their age, they all have special needs that need to be met for attachment and bonding.
 
I am a HUGE fan of Dr Karyn Purvis...and I have a video series of hers on Passion1.27's website - http://www.passion127.org/ under the tab Insights and Gifts. 
 
Blessings for your day... joy and victory are ours through Jesus.