"How then do you serve God? you posture yourself, and you maneuver your life, and you devote energy and effort and time and creativity to positioning yourself under the waterfall of God's continual blessing, so that He remains the source and you remain the empty receiver. You remain the beneficiary, He remains the benefactor; you remain hungry, He remains the bread; you remain thirsty, He remains the water. You don't ever do the blasphemous role-reversal on God." ( John Piper )  My sweet friend Tiff told me that she had met a teenage boy who was homeless and begging in the streets of Addis and that she knew deep down that God was calling her to be his mother. Tiff called her agency and they said "It is not possible" She contacted outside sources and was told "It is not possible" David RAN towards Goliath. Tiff had already adopted a blind boy. She saw his picture on a listing of waiting children and knew, deep down "He is my son" She showed the picture to Jim and their heart was as one. Jim and Tiff both said "Yes" to folding him into their home knowing he was blind. Baby Jamsey came home to America with eyes that could see his mother and father. So you see, her heart was saying "YES" to Habi when everyone around her was saying "NO" because she had already stood under the waterfall of grace and believed this was where God wanted her to be--"hungry, thirsty, empty" but trusting--no matter how painful--knowing this was the very best place to be....way outside of her comfort zone...way beyond herself but kneeling at the feet of Christ. So when Habi walked through those doors at the airport, it was the Red Sea parting, it was Habi walking through the impossible, walking past the dark alleys in Ethiopia and out into the light of the Gospel. And there was Tiff and Jim..standing there having tasted and found God to be so good. I thought all day while I was at the airport how Moses said to the people not to be afraid but to stand back and watch what the Lord was about to accomplish. And then: The sea parted.
I am not preaching health & wealth gospel, and I am not saying that Tiff and Jim's life has been easy these past few years through the adoption process, but I am saying that once you experience being in Gods will there is no other place you want to be. Your cry becomes: "Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere." Less about the gifts and more about experiencing and knowing HIM.    Habi posted this on his facebook page just a few days after being home: "oh God i love you you change my life tanks"   Just a few days later Steve, the kids and I drove to a different airport to see a little girl come home. We have all been waiting for her for so very long. When people lean in and whisper "How much does something like an adoption cost you?" The answer is always the same "Everything" Oftentimes, adopting a child, from any country, costs not only money, but all the reserves of emotion and strength and courage that you have. Liv and Mike's story is so similar to our story with Tsega. They went through weeks and weeks of not knowing if they would ever be able to bring her home, after having already met her. It makes their reuniting sweeter, more valuable. The air was thick with gratitude.   Rohama means "Having obtained mercy" they are calling her Romie for short.  This visit was a different, because Liv stayed home with her two toddlers while her husband Mike went alone to pick up Rohama in Ethiopia. It was more romantic than a wedding, watching Liv's face so filled with anticipation, her heart was a mix of missing him and seeing her little girl. Liv was wearing a shirt that said "love is beautiful" and then for all of us who came to share in her joy watched her show us just how beautiful it is. When Mike finally came around the corner Liv went under the gate and rushed at them.   (First time holding her since their first trip to Ethiopia)  Someone asked a young girl once: "What do you need? What makes you happy?" and she responded, "Knowing my parents love each other" This picture reminded me of how much children need that security, knowing that they are wanted, yes, but also that there is peace and love in the home. The unspoken language between Liv and Mike was so moving.         Big sister taking in her new sibling.  Looking at her Mommy for the first time.   "Each day you wake up to a home filled with color and diversity is a day that you wake up reflecting the last day. The last day when all tongues and tribes will be worshiping as one. You get a small glimpse into heaven. And if you have other children, they, too, get to experience firsthand the beauty and majesty of God's creativity." (from an article written by Trillia Newbell )  |