IN Everything Give Thanks

Greetings are late yet again!

So many things going on and at times you wonder if there is a "normal" in your life.  That is where I've been at for a while.  There is so much to do, and I don't seem to be able to accomplish much.  Then I realized why.  I was looking at ALL the things I needed to do.  Then I'd do a bit here, a bit there and never accomplish any of it.  So, as I've done before, I had to stop.  You have all heard the phrase, "Stop, Look, and Listen" (SLL).  Well that is exactly what I needed to do.  STOP what I was doing (or not doing), LOOK up to the Lord, and LISTEN for His voice and His direction.  And in that time, I came to understand so many things.  I decided to start with ONE thing, accomplish that, then move on to the next.  And when looking to the Lord, I was reminded of one of my life verses....I Thess. 5: 16-18.  16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."   Then taking one step at a time, and focusing on ONE thing at a time, I was moving forward.  But I still didn't have that elusive peace of accomplishment, since there was so much to do. And then I realized, "Be joyful always"...I wasn't.  So, I started singing praise songs to the Lord.  (I am the reason He wrote "make a joyful NOISE unto the Lord.") Once I started with the praise songs, I realized I needed to also pray...for any number of things.  And then I started giving thanks, without realizing I was doing this according to the scripture I loved.  Then, ALL OF A SUDDEN I realized I had accomplish a LOT in that time of singing, praising and praying.  God walked me though it.  But I had to come to the realization that I, myself, CANNOT do it alone.  With the Lord with me, I was doing things I hadn't been able to do before.  And then I also realized my second life verse was a part of it all.... Isaiah 40: 31.  "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; the will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."  I never, until that moment realized that those two segments of scripture could get me through anything.

Okay, all of that to let you know, God IS working in me, in a mighty way.  While starting to accomplish things, my mind kept going back to things I have learned over the years about God and how He has shown us how to live in victory over all situations.  No, He didn't say He'd take us out of them, but how we can be victorious IN them.  Just as the scripture above says, "IN all things give thanks".  All right then on to the next step.  And here is where you'll all understand where I've been in this.  I have been praying for Savanah's adoption, as so many, many of you have been doing. And yes, I was believing God was going to answer those prayers in His time.  Then I'd sit back and ask God why it wasn't His time yet.  I wasn't truly believing He would answer.  In my mind, His time was way out there somewhere....elusive.  And it dawned on me... I have been taught better than this.  I read the end of the book, I KNOW we win, I KNOW we have the victory.... oops. I didn't have victory.  Yes, I knew we'd win in the end... but victory was another elusive thing.  Ahhh... Psalm 60: 12 was the answer.  "With God we WILL gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies."  And then:
Matthew 19: 26,  "...With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
Mark 9: 23, "...everything is possible for him who believes."
Mark 10: 27, "...With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."

I could go on and on with verses, but you get the idea.  We can have the victory over it all, THROUGH the Lord Jesus Christ.  

Okay, I got it...now to put it to work, right?  Believing it and walking it may end up being two different things.  But I was starting to really believe it enough to want the victory.  We'll go to the one item where I was having problems believing we had the victory.... SAVANAH'S ADOPTION.  Well, that tells you I didn't start with little things, I went right to the top of HARD things.  But that is where I started exercising my faith and my belief that we HAVE the VICTORY.  So, I started praying with victory.  I shared with anyone who asked how things were...I'm believing we HAVE the victory in this adoption.  Yup, it's been weeks, but my faith in it kept getting stronger and stronger.  

I got a note from Guerline (adoptive mom)...that she was writing the lawyer.  It was a good letter, not nasty or accusing...simply asking questions.  Then I thought I should also write a letter...but didn't get it done right away.  So, today was the day...I was going to write him to see where things stood.  Brought up email, and there was one from Guerline... it read, "Well praise God. I just realized that the adoption agency wrote to me at 2:27.  Mr. Gassant had contacted them to tell them that IBESR has approved the adoption. He is trying to set a court date for our case....."   WOW... victory in the works. We had been told long ago, once IBESR (social services here) approved the adoption, it would be a short time to completion. Nope we are not there yet... BUT the victory is OURS.  Savanah will be going home to her family in the near future.  

So, now, all of this to ask YOU to pray with us.  Pray in VICTORY with us over the finalization of the adoption.  God has already moved one mountain, He can move more for us!!  At this time, Savanah is 4 years 1½ months old.  We have had her for 4 years and 1 month.  And now we are claiming the victory for her, her new family and for the Lord to get all the glory in it!!!

Till next time, remember the verses above and claim your victory over what comes against you.  Praise God with us that things are moving.  Praise God with us that He is in this and will complete it.  Praise God with us, that THROUGH HIM WE HAVE THE VICTORY in all areas of our lives.        

 

A letter sent...

I just sent out another email.  And I will post it here, but needed to add something first.  I didn't realize it had been so long since I had posted (YET AGAIN), but life has thrown us a few curves these last six months and we are dealing, but sometimes doing it slowly.  So please, have patience with us (ME specifically) as we try to keep you updated on things here.  I will do my best to try and post more frequently.
In Him and through Him,
Karen

Here is the letter sent out....

 I really was surprised when I looked at the calendar.  So much has happened in the last six weeks and I didn't realize it had been that long since I had sent out any type of update.  Not sure just where to start, but I'll simply type as things come to mind.  So please bear with me on all of this, okay?

In the last email I don't know if I had mentioned that I had gone to Florida to be with Bev, Bob and Dawn.  It was a good time, but also a hard time.  To see my active, in charge, never slow down brother Bob laying in a hospital bed, staring at the ceiling was heart wrenching.  But we prayed and put him in the Lord's Hands, and waited....and waited.  After two weeks I came back home to help and relieve Don from taking care of Savanah, so he could return to his ministry.  Then got a message from Bev.  They had decided to honor Bob's health care directive, that had been filled out way prior to the accident.  This decision had been taken out of everyone's hands at the accident when an airway was installed.  So, on October 8th, I flew out to be with Bev and the family when "life support" was removed.  YES, it was a hard decision for everyone...but the Lord was a part of it.  I'm not going into details, but at one point, Bob was lucid enough to let everyone know HIS wishes.  This released the burden so he could go home to be with this Lord. On October 11th, a celebration of life was held in Bob's hospital room with family and friends. (I think 16 people there, plus others on internet).  He seemed aware of everyone.  And we each were able to sit on his bed, hold his hand, and share our happiest memories with him.  It really was a day of rejoicing of a life well lived.  Early on the morning of October 15th (exactly 2 months after his 83rd birthday) my brother walked into the arms of Jesus!  A time of rejoicing for him, and yet sad for us.  We know, without a doubt, that we will see him again in heaven. But he left a vacant spot in the family.  Thankfully it will be filled with a lot of memories. 

I stayed an extra week and a half to help where possible with Bev.  I don't think I did much, but I think I needed to be there, for me.  Bev has never been a sister-in-law....she has always been a SISTER in the true sense of the word.  I was able to walk with her though some of the things needing to be accomplished.  Bev has some great neighbors and her church family is awesome, too. 

I returned on October 27th.  Since I had missed Savanah's 4th birthday on the 16th, we went yesterday, the 31st, and had a party...first swimming at a local hotel, then home for cake, ice cream and presents.  She had four friends with her and everyone had a great time.  Wore Savanah out, totally. 

I will ask you to keep praying for Don.  The pulled muscle in his lower stomach is SO slow healing.  But that may be the fact he keeps doing things that sort of irritate it.  And of course, he won't stop working, either.  I think his frustration with not being able to do some things is hard on him. 

With this "catch-up" about done, I'd better close.  Remember that no matter what we face, no matter what the situation is, no matter how hard things are, the Lord is there for us, if we only turn to Him and hang on to His Hand!!
Blessings beyond measure to all!