Laugh!

Has God ever made you laugh? Sometimes laughter can come from a lack of faith. We think, "there's no way God can do that". At other times His challenges become laughable because we are so used to being uncomfortable. His next request is just humerus. The Shunemite woman experienced this.
 
2 Kings 4:11- 17 "One day Elisha returned to Shunem, and he went up to this upper room to rest. ¹² He said to his servant Gehazi, “Tell the woman from Shunem I want to speak to her.” When she appeared, ¹³ Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tell her, ‘We appreciate the kind concern you have shown us. What can we do for you? Can we put in a good word for you to the king or to the commander of the army?’” “No,” she replied, “my family takes good care of me.” ¹⁴ Later Elisha asked Gehazi, “What can we do for her?”Gehazi replied, “She doesn’t have a son, and her husband is an old man.”

¹⁵ “Call her back again,” Elisha told him. When the woman returned, Elisha said to her as she stood in the doorway, ¹⁶ “Next year at this time you will be holding a son in your arms!” “No, my lord!” she cried. “O man of God, don’t deceive me and get my hopes up like that.” ¹⁷ But sure enough, the woman soon became pregnant. And at that time the following year she had a son, just as Elisha had said." NLT

'"No my Lord' she cried". You can almost hear both pain and laughter in her voice as she grapples with her own faith. Do I dare to believe for what I have wanted for so long? Can I really see an answer to this great need? Too often we look at our situation and our own ability to meet a need, rather than looking to the one who has all power and the ability to answer any prayer or perform any miracle.

My wife and I are laughing at this point in our lives. I have just assumed the role of Lead Pastor at my home church, having served on staff for 14 years. Building staff and sharing my vision for the future is more than a full-time job. Before any of this came up, we were in the process of adopting a little girl...for all most four years! We brought her home last October, but the finalization is still ahead...hopefully in the very near future. 

So with all of this, a new role at church and finalizing our daughters adoption, God shows up yet again. The first time He told us to adopt I wept tears for the hurting child He would lead us to. I have to admit this time I'm laughing. I'm thinking, "you want us to do what? We haven't finalized the first adoption, but You are calling us to do it again?" Joy's adoption has cost us four years and $25,000 (most of which was raised). Now, You are leading us to a place that will only take one year, but will take $35,000 or more. (hear me laughing in the background.) It's not that I wont do it, I will. It's not that God cannot drop $40,000 in our laps, He can. But now Lord, now?

Yet in the midst of my laughing, I know that if the Lord has called us to adopt again, we will. And if we are willing, He will provide.
 
By the way, my wife has already found a little boy in China and is already picking out names! I told her "if you name him, we'll have to keep him. :)

So I wrongly figured this blog was very soon coming to a close. It may, in actuality, become a integral part of my life again. God always keeps us wondering what's next. That is the excitement of fully relying on Him

In the end, with my laughing heart and all, I thank God that He has chosen us for this task and I pray that He is preparing another little heart to join the ever expanding Lewis clan. 

So when God calls you to do the insane...laugh. He understands!

 

Update

I realize that I have not posted very often since Joy came home in Oct. If you have read my previous post you understand why. If not, here is a simple explanation: until Joy's adoption is finalized, we have to be careful of what we post.

Today I am happy to announce that our final consent to adopt has been approved by the Filipino government. This means that all her paper work will soon be to us. We will then take it to our lawyer to have her adoption finalized here in Louisville. At that time we will change her name to, Joy Noelle Lewis, and she will be an American citizen. Pray with us that this last step will be quick and easy.

Joy is doing very well. Her behavior and attachment to all members of the family are normal now. She is blessing to us and our family. Her favorite person, no surprise, is my dad who we all call Pawpaw. Or at least we used to, until Joy started calling him Poppy. I think it may stick.

Joy's health is good. We have had no issues while weaning her off of one of her medications. This is a blessing. The Doctor here said it was a pointless medicine that was doing nothing for her. She has been off of it for more than two months, with no seizure. Thank God!

All in all we have had a pretty easy transition in comparison to a lot of our friends. We look forward to this four year process being behind us. She will soon have all of the rights an privileges of every American. As she continues to grow in her faith, I know that God has a divine plan for her little life. We are blessed to be a part of it.

Darren

Checking In

I know I have not blogged much since we went to get Joy Noelle. Her adoption is not finalized for several more months. During this time we are not allowed to write, post pictures, or give details about her. I can say it has been a very busy few months. She has settled in very well. Lots of doctors, dentist, and other appointments.

As soon as her adoption is finalized, I will fill you in on our progress. I will also post lots of pictures for you to see.

Thanks for standing with us during this process.
Darren

Happy Birthday!

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8

Today is our little girls 7th Birthday. In the Philippines her birthday has come and gone. We hoped so much to be there with her. We are ready to bring her home. All we need is a release to travel. We have begun to pack. We are watching plane tickets daily. We are so ready to move to the next phase of our lives.

"One year ago today we submitted paper work requesting to adopt you. I never thought it would take this long. Daddy and mommy hope you had a great birthday. I am happy to say it will be your last in an orphanage. When we get home, we will throw a big party for you. I can't wait to meet you and hold you. I know God has blessed you today whether  or not mommy and daddy were with you. We will see you soon. Happy birthday Joy Noelle!"

Love,
Daddy

The Stress of Silence

Here we are, still waiting. I am convinced that the Filipino Government is being used of God to teach me patience. For the last several weeks we have been waiting on that final call giving us permission to travel. But still we wait. It looks like we will defiantly miss our little girls 7th birthday (Sept. 21). Please pray that we will hear soon and for our sanity. I know in the end it will be worth it.

On a side note. We have started an online consignment store through eBay. Please check it out at the link below. All the money raised goes to missions work and orphan care.

www.theblackschnauzer.blogspot.com

Thanks,
Darren

Birthday

Our little girl will celebrate here 7th birthday September 21. It has been our hope to have her home by then. Our agency advised us to have a box ready to send to her in case we do not hear in time. So this weekend we went birthday shopping for our little girl. If we do not hear by Friday of this week, we will have to send the box to her, as we will not make it by her birthday. Please pray with us that we hear soon. We are waiting on her visa interview and our travel release. That's it. We're so close. Thanks for your continued prayers.

Expecting Trials

Each morning I have a basic routine. Once the kids are off to school (thank God), I settle into my office for the day, make a cup of coffee, and spend a half an hour or so in devotion and prayer. Today I felt led to write the devotion, rather than read it.

A few weeks ago a preached a two week series on the attacks of the enemy.  As believers we should not be surprised by these attacks. We should expect them and to some extent welcome them. Contrary to many in the church world today, I believe attacks are a sign that we are doing what is right. If you are not where you need to be in God, the enemy does not need to bother with you.

When a Christian couple seeks to adopt a child, attacks will come. You see not only are you fulfilling God’s will for your life, but also for the life of the child you will adopt. So in a sense when trials come you are really fighting the fight for your child.

As my wife and I have moved through these 28 months of paperwork and waiting, we have continually been under financial attack. Why finances? In short, if you don’t have the money to adopt…you can’t.  So here is a partial list:

Emergency Appendectomy $3,000

Tires $500

Dental Work on me $300

Emergency room visit and follow up for our son $1,200

Dental work on my wife $1,200

Air conditioner on vehicle that was 200 miles out of warranty $600

Scans to check my liver function $500

These are a few of the major things. There are a host of smaller expenses like car batteries, doctor visits, etc., etc., etc. We also had a freak hailstorm that caused $12,000 of damage to our home. (Thank God for State Farm.)

 Do you see a pattern of weirdness here? Now I am never one to blame all of our trouble on the devil. Some things are just life. That said, when you experience a constant barrage of trials, it’s probably not a coincidence.  This list equals $7,300.

Think about it. The devil knows who I am. He knows where I live. He knows I need money to adopt. He also knows that if I am willing to adopt, God has control of my wallet. If I were not spending money on the adoption, I’m likely to give it to God anyway.

Here is the point. I’m not writing to you as an appeal for money. God has faithfully provided for our adoption. I am writing to help prepare you for what is to come. Expect it. I now laugh about it. How am I going to pay all these bills (some are already paid)? I don’t know, but I do know a God that can help me pay them. He will provide as I have need. He always does.

“So Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior, I affirm again today that you have complete control of every aspect of my life: my marriage, my family, my finances, and my future; therefore, there is no need to worry or fret. I will instead rest in the knowledge and peace of my God. I will seek You and find You as Your WORD says. I will serve only you with my full heart. If one day I have nothing at all, I will remember that I am still rich because I have a relationship with You. Help me to be a positive influence on those seeking to adopt. May I always be willing to share our story.  Now Lord, bless those reading this that are in the midst of a storm. Be the lighthouse on their stormy sea. Keep them safe and as with Jabeez, may they prosper in all that they do.  Thank you for the opportunity to adopt Joy Noelle. May your peace reign in our home and lives, Amen.”