good reads.

"And we're content with the world we know, just adjusted a little for our identity as Christians. That's precisely why so many of us are so atrophied in our prayers, why our prayers rarely reach the level of "groanings too deep for words" (Rom 8:26). We are too numbed to be as frustrated as the Spirit is with the way things are.” 

- Russell Moore

Over the past couple months I have been doing some reading.  These books have been encouraging to me in this journey of adoption:

• Daniel For You, by: David Helm
• Adopted for Life- The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families and Churches, by: Russell Moore.  
• My Utmost, by: Oswald Chambers

"Faith never knows where it is being led, but loves and knows the one who is leading."

- Oswald Chambers, My Utmost

This journey is one of faith.  I am not certain of the things to come, but I am certain of the one who has called us.  During the early months of asking the Lord if he was calling us to adopt he continued to bring me to the story of Gideon [Judges 6-7] and the story of Feeding the 4,000 [Mark 8]. 

From our human perspective Gideon, from a small tribe, and his small band of troops [remember God took the troops down from +30,000 to only 300] could not take the large [I mean, really massive] army.  When victory was had, it could ONLY be attributed to God.  Gods ways are not our ways.  From our human perspective, a couple fish and loaves were certainly not going to feed such a large crowd of hungry people.  The disciples wanted to send them away.  Everyone was filled full and leftovers collected, God did that.  

"'And the Lord gave...' That subtle phrase, quietly anchoring Daniel 1:2, provides the point of emphasis that the writer wants to make to his readers...And the Lord gave- a sentiment of comfort to bolster readers who find themselves waiting...God was yet working his purposes out." 

- David Helm, Daniel For You

It is God who is in control, God who will provide all we need.

Here is one last good read from Adopted for Life:

"The reality, though, is that in most ways parenting is parenting, and growing up is growing up.  It's always hard. Some unique challenges go along with adoption - challenges related to finding a sense of belonging, to discipline and discipleship, to answering questions about origins. Count these as all joy. They point all of us - not just kids who were adopted - to the gospel. The gospel welcomes us and receives us as loved children.  The gospel disciplines us and prepares us for eternity as heirs.  The gospel speaks truth to us and shows us our misery in Adam and our glory in Christ.  The gospel shows us that we were born into death and then shows us, by free grace, that we're adopted for life." 

 - Russell Moore

So, the journey may be tough at times, so be it.

In this journey when I doubt and wonder, I hear the Lord in Numbers 23:19

"God is not human, that he should lie,

not a human being, that he should change his mind.

Does he speak and then not act?"

Here I am Lord, All of Me.