6/30/14

No Need to be Urgent

Rush, rush, rush...

Rushing around for the doctor's appointment, only to wait in the waiting room.
Rushing around getting the kids ready, only to wait on your husband.
Rushing around, speeding, only to get stopped at a light.

One summer in college my uncle got me a job working for the state. I worked for the State Treasurer's office, in the Unclaimed Property department. Not exactly exciting things happening there, but it was a job. They were expecting to be super busy that summer when the advertisement in the paper was supposed to be released. This ad would feature every name who had "unclaimed property." People could call a number and find out how to claim their property. I was taught how to answer the phones and how to direct people. The first week, I waited around...supposedly the phones would begin ringing off the hook any day now. Three weeks in and the paper still hadn't been published yet. Every joke about "government jobs" could be true about my nine weeks working there.

Slow people.
Noisy people.
Bossy people.
Obsessed with her stapler lady. (Oh yes, she worked there.)

I made copies. I played Bejewled. I filed a few papers. I would sit. I became so bored I even would go downstairs to the side door and stand with the smokers. Yes, me, who never smoked anything in her life and had allergies and possibly asthma would suffer through the haze just to get out of the office. Any paperwork I would get to do, I tackled it like it was due by noon. Most of the work I did, I was finished before two o'clock. I didn't leave until five.

One day, after giving me a pile of paperwork to copy/file, the "boss" told me: "Stop hurrying around. You might want to take all day to do this because this is all you have to do." It was torture.

Slowing down is NOT in my personality! When I have a to-do list, I always rush around getting everything done. I NEVER take my time doing anything - just ask my mother! She was always getting on to me about rushing and not doing my best in school.


When I first stayed at home, I would do ALL of my laundry in one day. Then I would sweep, mop, straighten up, and basically do all of my chores as well. I would work and work...only to find out, I would be home again tomorrow. No need to do it all in one day....

A lot of my rushing around has to do with control. I feel like I can control things if I do them fast. And controlling things is definitely something I am working on.

When I rush, I miss out...

...on the sweet smiles.
...on the gentle hugs.
...on the sticky kisses.
...on the silly antics.
...on warm coffee.

When I rush, I miss out on enjoying the little moments.

There is no need to rush. There is a difference between being "efficient" and "urgent." Efficiency implies a sense of planning that makes sure the job is done. Urgency implies a frantic pace that is almost panicked and anxiety-filled.

Feeling urgency to the point of anxiety can be a symptom of not trusting and resting in God's timing. We KNOW that God's timing is perfect, but do we trust it? Do we rest in that? Urgency can be a sign of our lack of trust.

Isaiah 30:15 says
For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel:

"In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength."
But you would not, and you said, "No, for we will flee on horses" - therefore you shall flee! And, "We will ride on swift horses" - therefore those who pursue you shall be swift! One thousand shall flee at the threat of one, at the threat of five you shall flee, till you are left as a pole on top of a mountain and as a banner on a hill.
Therefore, the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you; and therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him.

"In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength." - God was telling Israel that the answer to their troubles was found in resting and confidence in God. Instead, they decided to trust in "horses" - or themselves. They fled, rushed away in fear!

"Therefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you...He will be exalted." Maybe this doesn't mean God is just waiting around to bless you. Maybe God is waiting for the perfect time to bless you. God wants to give you grace and mercy. He wants to take away your pain. But He also wants to bring Himself glory.

God works in His own timing. Whether it is a rescue mission or a blessing....God waits for the perfect time. He will give grace and mercy when it gives Him the most glory. He will rescue us from trials when it gives Him the most glory. We can only rest and trust.

As I wait and gather paperwork for the Waiting Child Application and the Dossier...my prayer is this:

Lord, let me rest in You. Let my heart be confident and quiet - knowing You are in control. Let me find strength in returning to You and resting, trusting You. Amen."

As you rush around your day.....do not let yourself be urgent. There is no need to be urgent.
Rest.
Trust.



6/27/14

Friday Favorites - Jesus Calling

One of my all-time favorite yearly devotionals is:

by Sarah Young

Sarah Young was a missionary in the early 1990s in Australia, ministering to Japanese immigrants in Melbourne.  She began writing this book out of a desire to experience more of the presence of God on a daily basis.  Her inspiration was a book by Andrew Murry called, The Believer's Secret of the Abiding Presence.

I love Jesus Calling because Scripture is woven into to each day.  Her book is unique in that each day's reading is written from the perspective of Jesus talking to you.

Here is an excerpt:

6/24/14

Waiting Child List

Although we are waiting to send in our dossier, we contacted our agency to see if we could start the paperwork for the "Waiting Child" program.
 
I've mentioned before that we had considered a couple of children on the waiting child list. Those did not turn out to be the child God has for us. Children on this list usually have a severe special need or are older. Sometimes they are sibling groups as well. Children on this Waiting Child list are ready to be adopted!


They come from all over the world (some even here in the US). You can check out a
great site here explaining a little more, and how YOU can help! 


6/23/14

He Still Teaches

I thought the other day: "What would it be like to be an artist in New York City?"
Now, I'm not an artist.  I've only been to New York City once and it was completely overwhelming.  I was really asking myself: what if I were someone different?  I guess I wondered if I would be the same person, have learned the same lessons, or even been on the path I am now?  I sometimes wonder if I would have learned about love, joy, peace, and patience without children?

6/20/14

Friday Favorites - Cynthia Heald

Cynthia Heald

I love all of her Bible Studies! Here are just a few reasons why:

1. You are studying THE BIBLE.  Not a book with her commentary, although there is a little bit of that. The questions are designed for YOU to answer and they are general enough that even a new believer would be able to understand!


6/19/14

Adoption is Emotional

Can I be honest?  I never knew I would cry over paperwork.

I can blame hormones....
I can blame fatigue....
I can blame having hopes too high....

The fact of the matter is, I cried over silly paperwork.   I wasn't exactly sobbing, just a few disappointed tears.  I had read a form wrong and instead of sending in our dossier, we need to wait another two, or four, or six (or more!) weeks....waiting for our I-800A to be approved - governments ugh!

6/16/14

Kindess Honors God

Kindness is...
compassion.
tenderness.
helpfulness.
gentleness.
generosity.
selflessness.
forgiveness.

Galatians 5:22 says it is a "fruit of the Spirit."
Ephesians 4:32 says "and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you."


6/15/14

Father's Day - June 2014

So many children grow up without a father. 
He might leave or have never been there.
 
I had my dad all growing up, and have him still.
He has been to me an example

6/13/14

Friday Favorites - Jesus Storybook Bible

 
This book is A.M.A.Z.I.N.G
 
 
We have read this book every night to our children for over a year and half.  Once we finish all the stories, we just start again!

6/12/14

Waiting (so far)

Waiting has never been easy for me.  Everything that I have waited for had an "ending." 

Waiting to finish my degree.

Waiting to get married.

Waiting to deliver my children.

Those waiting times were hard.  But I had things to do.  I prepared while I waited. 

While we wait for this fourth child, although I have things to prepare for at times, most of my time, I have nothing to do.  There is no use trying to figure out what kind of medical specialist she will need.  I have no idea what size clothes she will wear.  I do not know whether I can plan certain things because we have no idea when we will be traveling.  It could be six months from now.  It could be a year from now.  It is hard to make any long-term plans.  I was recently encouraged by a post from the Femina Girls website. Waiting is action.  It is an expecting.  A sitting still and looking forward.  Waiting involves an expectant end and a fulfilled hope.

Although I have done a lot of waiting so far (six months), I have a lot of waiting to come. Although I have a lot to learn about waiting,  I wanted to share with you what else I've learned so far during this waiting period.

6/9/14

Summer Recipe - Hawaiian BBQ Chicken

One of my favorite things to use is my crock pot. I found this recipe a few years ago and have tried it several times.  We love rice around here, so it is perfect for us!
 
Crock pot Hawaiian BBQ Chicken
Ingredients:
4-6 Boneless Chicken Breasts (mine were still frozen!)
1 Bottle Archer Farms Hawaiian Style Barbecue Sauce (from Target)
1 20 oz. can Pineapple Chunks, drained
 

6/6/14

Friday Favorites - Favorite Artist for June 2014

One of my new favorite Christian artists is Ellie Holcomb.
 
Most of her music is based on Scripture.  Her lyrics have really spoken to me on a very personal level. Her voice is so soothing. 

6/5/14

Hurry Up and Give Me Patience

Patience is something we never pray for, because if we do - we just know something bad is going to happen!

The AC will quit working.
The dog will run away.
We will wake up late.
Screaming will ensue.
Trash will spill everywhere.
The smashed, cold, uneaten eggs will cover her booster seat....the floor...the bottom of her diaper and feet.

No, this did not all happen to me this morning before 9:00am...
No, my eye is just twitching from allergies...

One of my dearest friends once told me that she explained "patience" to her young girls as "Waiting with a good attitude."

So simple.  So hard - even for adults!

6/4/14

Adoption Update: June 3

We received news yesterday that we were not matched with the little girl spoken about in a previous post.  Although we are saddened that another family was chosen - we are so happy that she has a family!  This family will be able to bring her home quicker