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.