Monday, November 29, 2010

More Amazing News

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Heb. 11:1
We have been praying and seeking the LORD’s direction on a very important decision these last few weeks.  A precious prayer friend spoke the above words to me during one of our conversations.  See, I got scared...not about the situation, but about me being able to serve the LORD IN the situation.  
Stick with me and I will get to it, I promise.  Early on Thanksgiving morning I couldn’t sleep, so I went down stairs and sat on the couch where Karlie was sleeping.   Everyone else was still sleeping so I picked up my Bible and began to read - just anywhere. 
After a bit I came to Matthew 7:7-11
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find, knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks received, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.  Or which one of you, if his sons asks him for bread, will give him a stone? ... If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good thing to those who ask Him!”
I was immediately so sleepy that I couldn’t keep my eyes open, so I closed them and went to sleep with that verse on my mind.  
Later, I remembered Hebrews 11 and began to look at these words...
“By faith Abel...by faith Enoch....by faith Noah...by faith Abraham...by faith Sarah...by faith Isaac...by faith Jacob...by faith Joseph...by faith the parents of Moses...by faith Moses...by faith the people crossed the Red Sea; by faith the walls of Jericho fell; by faith Rahab...Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David and Samuel and the prophets;”.  
By faith....
what?
By faith each of the above mentioned and many not mentioned chose to become a part of Gods story.  In fear, in troubles, in victories, and persecutions, they chose to believe the LORD’s plans and purposes above what they could see or feel and take a journey with the LORD.  
Each of us has a part in the Greatest Story Ever Told.  Will we choose to walk by faith?
What is our amazing news that still leaves me trembling with excitement and yes, fear?
By faith we are bringing home not ONE, but TWO children from China!!!  
We have received pre-approval to also adopt a 10 year old girl.  Her story is heart-breaking, and also amazing.  I will share more later as I can.  
You will notice a Chip-in on the side later tomorrow.  We need an additional (at least) $10,000 to bring her home also.  I don’t think it is a secret how expensive adoptions are, especially for two.  This was one of our fears in saying yes to 2 children...
Please pray with us as we ask, seek and knock and
by faith we will journey with the LORD to bring our children home!

29 comments:

  1. I am beyond excited for your news!!! Keep holding tightly to those verses b/c they will keep you focused on the TRUTH...Our God is an awesome God, & He IS mighty to save!

    Looking forward to hearing more of the story...

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  2. Wow, Shonni! This IS amazing news! Congratulations. Can't wait to see your two new treasures.

    Blessings,
    Sarah

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  3. Amazing! This morning I was having those same fears. We have just started our adoption process again, and I have been trying to figure out how in the world I am going to handle, adoption planning, 2 trips to Ethiopia, plus the mission trip I am leading and work full time... and we're adopting 2 as well.
    God said, Trust...so by FAITH.
    Thank you for this...Praying for you!

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  4. Oh wow! I love it!! Congratulations!!

    Only God could give you the direction, the comfort and the knowledge that he walks before you and paves the way!!

    Can't wait for you to share more!!

    ((hugs))

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  5. Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Congrats.

    Many blessings to you and yours.
    Angela


    ps... how do you do it? We are shedding blood, sweat and tears over the 2 kids we adopting and people like you can adopt and adopt and by the looks of it everybody is well behaved and perfectly attuned to the family. We are making progress, but these two are going to take years of healing before we could even consider more.

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  6. WOW- SOOO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PRAYING WITH YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WAHOOOO :)

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  7. Oh wow!! That is big news! I'm so excited for you! I can't wait to hear more details.

    God is so good!

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  8. Congratulations!! We have been doing paperwork all day ourselves. Covering your fundraising with prayer!

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  9. yayyeeeeee, my friend!!!!! I just know that God is going to open the floodgates of heaven and provide every $$$ you need! Yes, He absolutely will.

    So excited for you and rejoicing that He has once again called your precious family.

    Amazing!

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  10. You know I am BEYOND excited for you!!! Can't wait till you get that chip in up!!! Love you and praying!!!

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  11. Oh my goodness!! Share more share more!!! We actually contemplated adding a 12 year old girl to ours last night, but then decided we are so close to bringing Gracie home that we don't want to postpone it. But my thinking with the new China rule of allowing your dossier to be logged in for a year and reuse it may bring us back to China sooner than we thought!!!!

    Congratulations! Now share more!!!

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  12. That is such wonderful news! Praying for your new adoptions & all that entails.
    God bless
    Renata:)

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  13. Praise God! We are walking through a very similar story right now!!!!!! After almost 2 years we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.....In just a few hours the judge will rule on our adoptions in Ethiopia. BY FAITH, we are beleiving we will PASS!

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  14. Shonni~
    Incredible news! Can't wait to hear more. I remember reading those same passages a year and a half ago - and God provided and both kiddos are home...and we're on the journey again. We certainly can't do this alone. He will provide!

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  15. Congratulations, Mama! so excited for you. can't wait to hear all about her. Yipeeeeeeee!!

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  16. How wonderful! I understand the "fear" part. I've been feeling that myself lately. Thank you for the faith booster.

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  17. How exciting!!! I can't wait to hear the whole story and see their cute faces.

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  18. OH HOW AWESOME!!! Praise the Lord! Can't wait to hear more about both of them! What a blessing!

    I totally understand about the extra $10 K. We were told 10-12 K more for our 2nd son. I am really having to focus on Him to keep my mind from worry. A big blessing today--sold some gold jewelery and made $665!!! That's about 1/20th of the way to the total! ;0)

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  19. By faith....
    What a cool post. Would love to hear all about your next 2 adoptions. In the UK it takes us 5 years just to adopt 1 from China. How do you adopt 2 at a time? Wow!! Look forward to following your journey.
    Love Jules
    xxx

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  20. Your message touched my heart. I understand what you mean. We also walk in faith. We have four adoptive children from three different countries (Korea, South Africa, China)and are on the pre-waitinglist to adopt a fifth child (special needs, Lesotho). God bless you! He will provide. Karin (from the Netherlands)
    www.wereldgezin.blogspot.com

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  21. Shonni,
    I am so excited for your family as you work through two adoptions. You are in my prayers as you go forward trusting God. Jehovah Jireh, He is our provider...

    Have a blessed day.
    In Christ Alone,
    Joshua

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  22. Oh Shonni, I am sooo excited for your family! This is beautiful news!! God is our Jehovah-Jirah...He will provide! Congratulations...can't wait to see pictures of her sweet face!! ~stacy

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  23. Congrats! I keep thinking God has two in store for us too but it doesn't seem to be working out. Perhaps He will have another soon after we travel for our daughter? I don't know. I just know that, like you, I walk in faith. Like you, I don't want to get to Heaven and tell God I played it safe and tried to get as many "walks" as I could but I was always swinging for the homeruns and came into home plate sliding and stealing home (it all comes around to baseball in our family :-)
    Best! ann

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  24. YAY Shonni! How amazingly exciting!! Can't wait to hear more and see all that the Lord is going to do! HUGS!

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  25. I don't have the right words to describe the wonderfulness that is our Father. I can't wait to hug you in the other realm one day, Shonni. I love your heart.

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  26. What an amazing God we serve. Your example is simply amazing to watch. I haven't read your blog for months (due to many small children) and now to come back and read this is breathtaking.
    Looking forward to that chip-in button...can I just send you a check? I think I still have your address in my file somewhere.

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  27. Oh my... How God must be smiling right now! Not one but TWO of His precious children will have a forever family and get to see His love in action! Blessings to you... Praying that everything goes smoothly and that the Owner of a cattle on a thousand hills provides beyond what you think or dream possible!

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  28. Yea!!! One more will come home!! Can't wait to read more about her!! Prayers for all to continue forward with no problems! Jennifer

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  29. God does wonder working miracles. Thanks for following your heart and sharing about it. Praying for those two little ones who will be blessing your family more than they will ever know.

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