We're on the verge of this adoption moving from the "something we're doing" column to the "what we've done" column. I've met my daughters, touched them and started falling in love with their sweet faces and voices. It won't be long before you all meet them and fall in love too and they will be the faces of this story. I'm so happy that's going to happen....because you're going to love them. You're going to be captivated by who they are and what they bring to all of our lives. You're going to wonder how our family was ever complete without them. I can't wait.
Last night, a song and portions of the book of Acts brought me right back to the beginning of this whole thing....and the first face that we fell in love with, the face that started the ball rolling and made this whole things happen. Before it's about us, before it's about our girls, as sweet and deserving as they are.....it's been about Him and I need to tell you why and how.
Acts 4 records an experience of Peter and John shortly after Jesus death and resurrection. As they were walking through Jerusalem, on their way to the temple, they encountered a man who had been crippled from birth. He had sat begging, in this opportune spot for the better part of 40 years and had become part of the landscape to the locals. He called out, asking for coins, as he had every day before, and was met with and unexpected response from Peter and John. They looked him in the eye as they told him that they didn't have any money to give but quickly followed that disappointing news with an unbelievable offer. Peter reached out his hand and said, "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk." Here's how the Bible records what happened next, "Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him."
Amazing! The kind of thing you can only believe if you see it with your own eyes. If you had seen it on youtube you would be searching for a follow-up video of the editing tricks they used to make it look real. But this man's healing was undeniable - the people knew him....he had never been able to walk, and now here he was, in person, not just standing or walking...but jumping and leaping! This kind of stuff doesn't just happen with good wishes and fine motives....it takes something extra-ordinary....the working of God.
If you've been reading along, and following our journey to our girls, you've seen some undeniably amazing things happen. You've watched our bank account stay in the black as almost $40,000 worth of bills have been paid over the last 2 years. You've watched connections be made with people and resources at just the right time coming from unexpected places. You've watched things fall into place in unexplainable ways. And as we bring the girls home, you're about to see a bunch more....you're going to see hearts healed and a family forged in a miraculous way. You've seen things that don't just naturally happen with good wishes and fine motives....you've seen something extra-ordinary....just like the people who saw the man walking at the temple.
This lame man walking in Jerusalem caused such a stir that the rulers of the temple called Peter and John in for questioning the next day. They were concerned about the power "this thing spreading" could have over the crowds they were wanting to control. They questioned Peter and John, "By what power or what name did you do this?" "Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: 'Rulers and leaders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. He is the stone you builders rejected which has become the capstone. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.""When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say.....Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, 'Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.' After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old."
So when you ask "how" or "why" as you look at what is happening to us....when you wonder where the power is coming from....we want you to hear the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth and see His face. We want you to look at us and realize that we're unschooled and ordinary and be astonished at the things you see. We can't help speaking about the crazy things God is doing through this adoption because it's so crazy and so unable to be explained apart from it being God's work. We hope it inspires praise to God.
Our adoption journey began entirely as a response. It was a response to statistics and needs and sweet little faces around the world who are alone, yes....but that response was almost a side-note to the real deal. The response that bore our adoption was a complete and utter awe at our own adoption and the meeting of our needs. Our fears have been calmed, our needs satisfied, our healing is complete through the power of Jesus Christ of Nazareth who was crucified to pay our debt but was raised from the dead by God to provide salvation and adoption as sons. He did this for us....and we are in awe....and we want to show Him how much we love Him.
This is our song, our stand. Our adoption story is really just the story of how our family is trying to stand with our arms high and hearts abandoned in awe......He loved us first, when we had nothing to offer....how could we not respond to such great love?
Last night, a song and portions of the book of Acts brought me right back to the beginning of this whole thing....and the first face that we fell in love with, the face that started the ball rolling and made this whole things happen. Before it's about us, before it's about our girls, as sweet and deserving as they are.....it's been about Him and I need to tell you why and how.
Acts 4 records an experience of Peter and John shortly after Jesus death and resurrection. As they were walking through Jerusalem, on their way to the temple, they encountered a man who had been crippled from birth. He had sat begging, in this opportune spot for the better part of 40 years and had become part of the landscape to the locals. He called out, asking for coins, as he had every day before, and was met with and unexpected response from Peter and John. They looked him in the eye as they told him that they didn't have any money to give but quickly followed that disappointing news with an unbelievable offer. Peter reached out his hand and said, "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk." Here's how the Bible records what happened next, "Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him."
Amazing! The kind of thing you can only believe if you see it with your own eyes. If you had seen it on youtube you would be searching for a follow-up video of the editing tricks they used to make it look real. But this man's healing was undeniable - the people knew him....he had never been able to walk, and now here he was, in person, not just standing or walking...but jumping and leaping! This kind of stuff doesn't just happen with good wishes and fine motives....it takes something extra-ordinary....the working of God.
If you've been reading along, and following our journey to our girls, you've seen some undeniably amazing things happen. You've watched our bank account stay in the black as almost $40,000 worth of bills have been paid over the last 2 years. You've watched connections be made with people and resources at just the right time coming from unexpected places. You've watched things fall into place in unexplainable ways. And as we bring the girls home, you're about to see a bunch more....you're going to see hearts healed and a family forged in a miraculous way. You've seen things that don't just naturally happen with good wishes and fine motives....you've seen something extra-ordinary....just like the people who saw the man walking at the temple.
This lame man walking in Jerusalem caused such a stir that the rulers of the temple called Peter and John in for questioning the next day. They were concerned about the power "this thing spreading" could have over the crowds they were wanting to control. They questioned Peter and John, "By what power or what name did you do this?" "Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: 'Rulers and leaders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. He is the stone you builders rejected which has become the capstone. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.""When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say.....Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, 'Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.' After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old."
So when you ask "how" or "why" as you look at what is happening to us....when you wonder where the power is coming from....we want you to hear the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth and see His face. We want you to look at us and realize that we're unschooled and ordinary and be astonished at the things you see. We can't help speaking about the crazy things God is doing through this adoption because it's so crazy and so unable to be explained apart from it being God's work. We hope it inspires praise to God.
Our adoption journey began entirely as a response. It was a response to statistics and needs and sweet little faces around the world who are alone, yes....but that response was almost a side-note to the real deal. The response that bore our adoption was a complete and utter awe at our own adoption and the meeting of our needs. Our fears have been calmed, our needs satisfied, our healing is complete through the power of Jesus Christ of Nazareth who was crucified to pay our debt but was raised from the dead by God to provide salvation and adoption as sons. He did this for us....and we are in awe....and we want to show Him how much we love Him.
This is our song, our stand. Our adoption story is really just the story of how our family is trying to stand with our arms high and hearts abandoned in awe......He loved us first, when we had nothing to offer....how could we not respond to such great love?
What a beautiful article and life. God will truly bless your family for this. Thanks for sharing your journey with all of us.
ReplyDeleteLove, Don & Carol Lauderbaugh