It's Saturday. Yesterday was Good Friday, and tomorrow is Easter. I don't think I have ever seen any significance in Saturday. Until today.
As I was reading through the crucifixion story this morning, a couple of versus stood out that I have never really noticed. Matthew 27:62 says "now on the next day". That would have been Saturday. Jesus' death and resurrection had been prophesied since there was a need for a Savior. The signs of the Old Testament were being fulfilled. On Friday they witnessed Jesus hung on the cross, humiliated, broken, and beaten. They watched as the mid-day sky turned pitch black, and they felt the ground quake beneath their feet as the earth shook for her King! But on Saturday, it was quiet. They were only left with the memories of yesterday and a dead Savior. Where is the hope in that? Even as they talked among themselves about all Jesus had said at the Last Supper, they had no way of knowing for sure what tomorrow would bring! I am sure they began to even doubt of the darkness was really real! "Did the earth really shake or, was I just a little woosy from standing in the sun all day?" Thomas doubted. I am sure Peter lamented his denial wishing he had a do-over. Circumstances and hard evidence left nothing but despair and mourning. On Saturday there was nothing to do but wait.
Wait for the third day....when the promise was to be fulfilled. No amount of wishing, praying, or pouring over the facts would make Sunday come sooner! All there was to do on Saturday was to wait!
That really made me think about my wait. There are SO many things I feel like I am waiting on! So many promises and dreams that I believe are from God, but circumstances just seem to leave me hopeless so many times.
As I walked through my quiet, peaceful house this evening checking on all the kids one last time before heading to bed, I felt an enormous peace rush over me as I walked down the stairs and had the realization that morning is almost here! Sunday brings the good news that He. Is. Alive.
Sunday brings the fulfillment of the prophesies and the promises...but we can't get to Sunday without Saturday.
So today, I asked God to teach me how to wait well. I don't want to passively wait for the promises and Words God has spoken to me. I don't think God expects us to just coast through life waiting for him to show up like a fairy God-Mother (no-pun intended) and grant our wishes. But I also know that when the Saturday becomes long, I become anxious, doubtful, and even sometimes bitter. So today, I am asking God to show me how to wait expectantly and with full trust in Him!
What are you waiting for? Let's wait well because..... SUNDAY IS COMING!
Showing posts with label answered prayer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label answered prayer. Show all posts
Saturday, March 26, 2016
Thursday, August 1, 2013
The Move: A Few More Pieces
It's fun to now be able to take you guys on this journey with me! Moving has so many details that need to align just right in order for it to work out! This week God has shown again that He will meet our every need and faithfully provide the next step when it's time to take it.
The offer on our house in Ft. Worth was accepted and all parties have signed. We had received a contingency offer on our house in Midland. Midland has a crazy housing market right now...like houses sell in days, not weeks, and often for more than they were asking. We have a severe housing shortage. So many times, contingency offers are not accepted. We have always had to make contingency offers, but in a market like this, people usually want offers that are ready to move on it. So when we got the contingency offer, we were not sure what to do. We didn't mind taking it at all...the price offered was great, but the timing of having a contingency would mean we wouldn't be there in time for school to start for the kids. We had already asked if we can rent the house for whatever time needed to be there from the time school starts until we close...still waiting to get our "Yes!" on that one. So there was already sort of a plan in place for a little later closing. Our Realtor was not crazy about a contingency because she knows the market and felt we could get a non-contingent offer. John and I both went to prayer. The thing about walking through this move is that we have not made any decision until God spoke! We had clear direction before we did anything on this journey. So when it came to accepting or declining the offer, we really couldn't settle for gut feelings, the advice of others, or what the market says, we wanted to hear God's voice! Two days we prayed, listened, asked....I even sat for an extended time one of those mornings just sitting....waiting....listening so God could answer. Nothing. But not only was there not an answer, there was no anxiety! Can I get a hallelujah a "I might have actually matured a little in the "trust Me" category" - hallelujah?! On the morning of the day our Realtor had told the family with the offer on our house we would give them an answer, God answered. Right on time. Never early, never late, right on His time! During my quiet time when I was simply praying..not necessarily about the house, just having my morning coffee with God, I heard, "move forward". One of the frustrations with having to show the house has been not being able to pack because there is nowhere to put boxes if we are going to keep things neat and tidy! Accepting the offer means our house will show very little if at all, and we can start packing boxes! It means the buyers will move forward as if their house will sell getting things done such as appraisals, inspections, etc that can hold up a closing. It would all be moving forward if we accepted the contingency. I didn't share any of this with John. We had zero showings that day. You know, you kind of have to show the house to sell the house! On his way home from work right before we were to meet our Realtor to discuss options, John was feeling a bit anxious about not having any showings. Then God stepped in and showed Him the answer too! "Why do you need showings? Your house is sold." Once again God was so faithful to tell us both separately what the next step is! But He wasn't just telling us...we sat down to meet with our Realtor. She had told us the day before that taking the contingency in this market really was not advisable. But one of the things we love about our Realtor - who is also a dear friend - is that she is a Godly woman! We sat down to talk and she shares that in her time that morning, she had thought, "Taking this offer makes no sense, but this is the Petrees and nothing they do makes sense!" Ha! I love it! And it's so true! She went on to say that she felt maybe this family was supposed to get our house...we have been praying that our house would be a blessing to whomever was to buy it. So she just confirmed what God had already spoken to both John and I, so we accepted the offer! Now we are waiting to hear of the sell of their house! That did bring a bit of anxiety to me when I thought of that right after God said to accept the offer. God responded to that anxiety with a statement something like this, "Have you really not learned that I can take care of things like that by now?!" To which I responded, "Yes, Sir!"
But the pieces don't stop there! I may just have to stand on my rooftop literally and shout how faithful and good my God is before this is all done! The Word God gave me back in April 2012 about the new job said that it would allow John to be the husband and father he needed to be instead of making him choose and competing for those roles. When they offered John the job, one of the things that we loved immediately were the hours. He will get home an hour earlier than he does now! Scheduling the drop off and pick up of kids from school while working around babies I don't want to wake and naps, etc has been one of my biggest struggles! The time right after school when everyone is home, needing help with homework and I am trying to get dinner on the table is extremely stressful! Well, no more! We got on-line to look at the kids' schools! Their schedules fit perfectly with John's! The elementary starts at 7:45 and releases at 2:45. So I can drop them off while leaving the babies asleep because the big kids will still be home...they don't start school until 9:20! By then babies will be awake, and it will be no big deal to get them in the car to take the big kids! I will pick up the elementary kids and have their home work done before the big kids come home! And John will get off just in time to get to the middle school to pick up the big kids, so I only have to get out once in the afternoon! Anyone who says God isn't into the details hasn't lived a life with 8 kids! He cares about it all!
There are still some things to be worked out, like renting the house to be there when school starts, all the inspections, etc that have to be done on both houses, the sell of our buyer's house, etc, etc. But God has it! I'm not anxious....just waiting with great anticipation to see how He answers each one of these! Because He will!
The offer on our house in Ft. Worth was accepted and all parties have signed. We had received a contingency offer on our house in Midland. Midland has a crazy housing market right now...like houses sell in days, not weeks, and often for more than they were asking. We have a severe housing shortage. So many times, contingency offers are not accepted. We have always had to make contingency offers, but in a market like this, people usually want offers that are ready to move on it. So when we got the contingency offer, we were not sure what to do. We didn't mind taking it at all...the price offered was great, but the timing of having a contingency would mean we wouldn't be there in time for school to start for the kids. We had already asked if we can rent the house for whatever time needed to be there from the time school starts until we close...still waiting to get our "Yes!" on that one. So there was already sort of a plan in place for a little later closing. Our Realtor was not crazy about a contingency because she knows the market and felt we could get a non-contingent offer. John and I both went to prayer. The thing about walking through this move is that we have not made any decision until God spoke! We had clear direction before we did anything on this journey. So when it came to accepting or declining the offer, we really couldn't settle for gut feelings, the advice of others, or what the market says, we wanted to hear God's voice! Two days we prayed, listened, asked....I even sat for an extended time one of those mornings just sitting....waiting....listening so God could answer. Nothing. But not only was there not an answer, there was no anxiety! Can I get a hallelujah a "I might have actually matured a little in the "trust Me" category" - hallelujah?! On the morning of the day our Realtor had told the family with the offer on our house we would give them an answer, God answered. Right on time. Never early, never late, right on His time! During my quiet time when I was simply praying..not necessarily about the house, just having my morning coffee with God, I heard, "move forward". One of the frustrations with having to show the house has been not being able to pack because there is nowhere to put boxes if we are going to keep things neat and tidy! Accepting the offer means our house will show very little if at all, and we can start packing boxes! It means the buyers will move forward as if their house will sell getting things done such as appraisals, inspections, etc that can hold up a closing. It would all be moving forward if we accepted the contingency. I didn't share any of this with John. We had zero showings that day. You know, you kind of have to show the house to sell the house! On his way home from work right before we were to meet our Realtor to discuss options, John was feeling a bit anxious about not having any showings. Then God stepped in and showed Him the answer too! "Why do you need showings? Your house is sold." Once again God was so faithful to tell us both separately what the next step is! But He wasn't just telling us...we sat down to meet with our Realtor. She had told us the day before that taking the contingency in this market really was not advisable. But one of the things we love about our Realtor - who is also a dear friend - is that she is a Godly woman! We sat down to talk and she shares that in her time that morning, she had thought, "Taking this offer makes no sense, but this is the Petrees and nothing they do makes sense!" Ha! I love it! And it's so true! She went on to say that she felt maybe this family was supposed to get our house...we have been praying that our house would be a blessing to whomever was to buy it. So she just confirmed what God had already spoken to both John and I, so we accepted the offer! Now we are waiting to hear of the sell of their house! That did bring a bit of anxiety to me when I thought of that right after God said to accept the offer. God responded to that anxiety with a statement something like this, "Have you really not learned that I can take care of things like that by now?!" To which I responded, "Yes, Sir!"
But the pieces don't stop there! I may just have to stand on my rooftop literally and shout how faithful and good my God is before this is all done! The Word God gave me back in April 2012 about the new job said that it would allow John to be the husband and father he needed to be instead of making him choose and competing for those roles. When they offered John the job, one of the things that we loved immediately were the hours. He will get home an hour earlier than he does now! Scheduling the drop off and pick up of kids from school while working around babies I don't want to wake and naps, etc has been one of my biggest struggles! The time right after school when everyone is home, needing help with homework and I am trying to get dinner on the table is extremely stressful! Well, no more! We got on-line to look at the kids' schools! Their schedules fit perfectly with John's! The elementary starts at 7:45 and releases at 2:45. So I can drop them off while leaving the babies asleep because the big kids will still be home...they don't start school until 9:20! By then babies will be awake, and it will be no big deal to get them in the car to take the big kids! I will pick up the elementary kids and have their home work done before the big kids come home! And John will get off just in time to get to the middle school to pick up the big kids, so I only have to get out once in the afternoon! Anyone who says God isn't into the details hasn't lived a life with 8 kids! He cares about it all!
There are still some things to be worked out, like renting the house to be there when school starts, all the inspections, etc that have to be done on both houses, the sell of our buyer's house, etc, etc. But God has it! I'm not anxious....just waiting with great anticipation to see how He answers each one of these! Because He will!
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Gifted
Yes, I am gifted. No, I am not conceited! You are gifted too! We all are! God created us with a specific purpose...even before our very first day occurred He had all our days planned! That's what it says in Psalm 139. That means when He knit me in my mother's womb, He put me together exactly how He needed to in order for me to fulfill the role I play in this time for the Kingdom. Now that gets my excited! And if it doesn't light your fire, well as my Granddaddy would say, your woods wet!
I have been at a training the past two days for a class I will have to use to train prospective adoptive parents in our adoption program for children waiting in the Texas foster system who are legally available for adoption. There are some really great people at the training...and then there are some really not so great ones also. But as I have listened to the conversations, I become keenly aware that I was made for this work! My passion and personal experiences give me a perspective that no one else in the training has. Now I know way better than to get a big head about this! I know that I have nothing to boast about but Christ in me! But I can boast about that! So I am! I am so excited about the months to come at Addy's Hope! I can't wait to see what God does! We have so many needs to get us where it feels like we can even start to be effective in these programs, but God promises to abundantly supply all I need to do His work, so I am pressing ahead in faith with great expectation of how abundantly and amazingly He is going to meet each and every one of those needs so we can carry on His work of connecting His children with His loving families so that He will not leave them as orphans! Everybody hang on! I think this rides gonna be good!
I have been at a training the past two days for a class I will have to use to train prospective adoptive parents in our adoption program for children waiting in the Texas foster system who are legally available for adoption. There are some really great people at the training...and then there are some really not so great ones also. But as I have listened to the conversations, I become keenly aware that I was made for this work! My passion and personal experiences give me a perspective that no one else in the training has. Now I know way better than to get a big head about this! I know that I have nothing to boast about but Christ in me! But I can boast about that! So I am! I am so excited about the months to come at Addy's Hope! I can't wait to see what God does! We have so many needs to get us where it feels like we can even start to be effective in these programs, but God promises to abundantly supply all I need to do His work, so I am pressing ahead in faith with great expectation of how abundantly and amazingly He is going to meet each and every one of those needs so we can carry on His work of connecting His children with His loving families so that He will not leave them as orphans! Everybody hang on! I think this rides gonna be good!
Monday, July 12, 2010
It may be an all-nighter!
There is a really important meeting in Liberia this week regarding adoptions! It is "our" chance - the pro side of adoption to be heard. There is a new Justice Minister that has been named. She is looking over many issues that have been dealt with in Liberia - and lucky for us, adoption is one of them. She knows there are things that haven't gone as they were supposed to - like us paying money directly to the Ministry of Health - which is not supposed to be done according to government protocol. Eva Morgan has already been removed from her post at the Justice Ministry - Praise God!! She is the one who said, "This is not America. They don't need to eat three times a day." And in a meeting I was in and heard for myself, she said, "Poverty is no reason for placing a child for adoption. Why do we have so many adoptions? Do we need more support for families?" Duh!!!!!!
But even with her gone, we still have the people in charge at the Ministry of Health who are totally corrupt. We need to be heard at this meeting. We will be dining with the enemies...but that's ok because Psalm 23:5 says that even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. God guides and protects me, and He has prepared a table before my enemies. My cup overflows! Praise God!
I believe this is what we have been waiting for! President Sirleaf was warned by me as well as other key people that listening to those on the Presidential Adoption Committee would cause her great embarrassment. She has been listening to lies of the corrupt. And as Psalm 10 promises: "You [God] have seen it, for You have beheld mischief and vexation to take it into Your hand
The unfortunate commits himself to You; You have been the helper of the orphan. Break the arm of the wicked and the evildoer, seek out his wickedness until You find none. The LORD is King forever and ever; nations have perished from His land. O LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear to vindicate the orphan and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth will no longer cause terror." Hallelujah!
So please pray! Pray that the truth will be told and heard. Pray that those in attendance of the meeting will be open to hearing the side of the adoption service providers that has been silenced by those in power. Pray that God will open the doors wide for the children of Liberia to be helped through adoption.
I will be fasting and praying July 16 for the meeting and all those in attendance. There are some adoptive parents who have flown over there to attend the meeting. We have one family, but there are some from other agencies as well. Pray that they are heard. We also have one of our older boys going to speak. Pray for him, his name is Prince. Pray that He would speak the heart of God and be bold for all the orphans he represents! He is an amazing young man!
I'm excited! For the first time since the turn over of the orphanage, God has shown me a glimpse of what all the letters I have written and the battles I have fought might be about to help accomplish. The coolest thing? Maria Luiken of WACSN, who is Liberian, is responsible for this meeting! I have always wanted the Liberians to lead the charge. Maria is an amazing women! She is very much responsible for my son being home. She has been under great warfare as she has battled for the children. We may not agree on everything, Maria and I, but the two things we very much see eye to eye on is: 1) we work and fight for children! We do this because we are called of God and love the children of Liberia and 2) we don't care anything about who getting the credit for the battles, we just want the victory! We just want the band lifted and the corruption stopped so safe adoptions for children can pursue! May it be, in Jesus Name!
Will you fast and pray with me? We need warriors! Pass this along, please! We all know that truly, these people in power are not who we are fighting for they only have the power God allows them to have! Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powerful forces of evil in this dark world! We need warriors praying to send these evil forces back to the abyss!
Can you tell I'm excited! :) God is bringing a new thing....a stream in the desert! That is the first thing I thought of when Maria called and we talked and I knew that this meeting really is crucial. So this may be an all-nighter! I have five years of documentation to go through and send to her to get to the Minister for review before the meeting! But Praise God I have documentation of letters written and letters received! The truth is in them! The path of deception and corruption can be found weaved in them....and it's time for it to be told! Praise God!
For the "professional" version of the meeting prayer request :) go to our Addy's Hope News Blog.
But even with her gone, we still have the people in charge at the Ministry of Health who are totally corrupt. We need to be heard at this meeting. We will be dining with the enemies...but that's ok because Psalm 23:5 says that even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. God guides and protects me, and He has prepared a table before my enemies. My cup overflows! Praise God!
I believe this is what we have been waiting for! President Sirleaf was warned by me as well as other key people that listening to those on the Presidential Adoption Committee would cause her great embarrassment. She has been listening to lies of the corrupt. And as Psalm 10 promises: "You [God] have seen it, for You have beheld mischief and vexation to take it into Your hand
The unfortunate commits himself to You; You have been the helper of the orphan. Break the arm of the wicked and the evildoer, seek out his wickedness until You find none. The LORD is King forever and ever; nations have perished from His land. O LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear to vindicate the orphan and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth will no longer cause terror." Hallelujah!
So please pray! Pray that the truth will be told and heard. Pray that those in attendance of the meeting will be open to hearing the side of the adoption service providers that has been silenced by those in power. Pray that God will open the doors wide for the children of Liberia to be helped through adoption.
I will be fasting and praying July 16 for the meeting and all those in attendance. There are some adoptive parents who have flown over there to attend the meeting. We have one family, but there are some from other agencies as well. Pray that they are heard. We also have one of our older boys going to speak. Pray for him, his name is Prince. Pray that He would speak the heart of God and be bold for all the orphans he represents! He is an amazing young man!
I'm excited! For the first time since the turn over of the orphanage, God has shown me a glimpse of what all the letters I have written and the battles I have fought might be about to help accomplish. The coolest thing? Maria Luiken of WACSN, who is Liberian, is responsible for this meeting! I have always wanted the Liberians to lead the charge. Maria is an amazing women! She is very much responsible for my son being home. She has been under great warfare as she has battled for the children. We may not agree on everything, Maria and I, but the two things we very much see eye to eye on is: 1) we work and fight for children! We do this because we are called of God and love the children of Liberia and 2) we don't care anything about who getting the credit for the battles, we just want the victory! We just want the band lifted and the corruption stopped so safe adoptions for children can pursue! May it be, in Jesus Name!
Will you fast and pray with me? We need warriors! Pass this along, please! We all know that truly, these people in power are not who we are fighting for they only have the power God allows them to have! Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powerful forces of evil in this dark world! We need warriors praying to send these evil forces back to the abyss!
Can you tell I'm excited! :) God is bringing a new thing....a stream in the desert! That is the first thing I thought of when Maria called and we talked and I knew that this meeting really is crucial. So this may be an all-nighter! I have five years of documentation to go through and send to her to get to the Minister for review before the meeting! But Praise God I have documentation of letters written and letters received! The truth is in them! The path of deception and corruption can be found weaved in them....and it's time for it to be told! Praise God!
For the "professional" version of the meeting prayer request :) go to our Addy's Hope News Blog.
Friday, March 12, 2010
The Journey: Reflections
Whewh! Have just a few minutes to write some reflections here. Baby Girl is asleep in the swing for a minute and other two at home have breakfast and are busy at play for the time being!
Two weeks ago today our lives were changed forever! Whether we have Baby Girl forever or not, she will leave her footprint on our family!
The two weeks leading up to her being placed in our home are a blur. But as I have looked back on it, I have seen some major God moments that I totally underestimated at the time. One such moment was the Thursday morning before we went to court on Friday. During the whole process, I was so intent on making sure I didn't get in God's way. I didn't want to have any agenda in the situation. I wanted only to follow God and be His hands and feet. If that was to serve "Sally", then that is what I wanted to do. If that was to be momma to Baby Girl even for a brief time, then that is what I wanted to do.
In that, I had prayed differently than ever before. I just prayed for God to move and show me what to do. I cried out time and again to make it clear so that I would not get ahead, behind to the right or to the left of Him. It was probably one of the best places I have ever been with God...fully trusting, wholy leaning on and totally in love with! I just wanted to please Him and do His will - period!
Thursday morning when I was getting ready, God impressed on me that I should specifically pray that Baby Girl be placed in our home. It stopped me in my tracks. I began arguing with God (why do I do that?!). I began going down the list of why I hadn't already done that: what if she was with a wonderful foster family who was hoping to keep her and their hearts were ripped our if she were moved to us; what if that was not what our role was in this and I asked, it didn't happen, and I had to wrestle with unanswered prayer again; what if she did come to live with us and then goes back with Sally. God's answer? "I know, Trust Me! Obey Me!"
I didn't know why God was asking me to pray that Baby Girl would be placed with us, but I knew that not praying it right then would be outside of obedience, so I asked. The verse God has me in for 2010 is John 15, and I believe that God was reminding me of what He wants to teach me this year about His character and prayer! I was abiding in Him like I never have. Because of that, He was telling me exactly what to pray and that is when John 15:7 comes to life: "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you." I didn't really know if I "wished" for Baby Girl to be with us. But I did know that God was stirring in my heart to ask for it! He knew better than me how much I truly did long for her to be here.
Has the past two weeks been tough? Yes! Our lives were turned upside down in an instant as we have struggled to find a "new normal" as a house of seven with a new baby. We all know that a new baby puts a magnifine glass on any struggles in a marriage or the running of a home. So yes, it has been tough! But even in some of those moments that are tough, I stop to change a diaper. She looks at me and smiles her beautiful smile and all the "tough" melts away! She is so worth it! Even if it is only for a year! What greater joy is there than to pour my heart and soul into a little life for the time I have her! What greater gift to give her than to sing the love of Jesus over her as she goes to sleep each night and speak His blessings over her life as it gets its start! Will my heart be ripped out if she has to leave, probably. But for now, she is here. For now, she stops crying when I hold her. For now, she is my baby girl. For now, I will lay down my life for her and love her as if it will be forever!
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