Did You See Today's Verse?

How COOL is this?????

No temptation has taken you but such as is according to man's nature; and God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above what ye are able , but will with the temptation make the issue also, so that should be able to bear .” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Our "way of escape" came yesterday!

The Good News Has Finally Arrived!!!!

(please do read my "Thursdays Before the Throne" post-posted today as well!)

We received the news today!!!!!

WE ARE OUT OF PGN!!!!!!!

Our case has been approved by the Guatemalan government!!!

Nathaniel is legally ours!!!

I was shaking so hard it's a good thing I was sitting down when I got the e-mail. Usually, you get a phone call informing you of this, but, today, of all days, our home phone is NOT WORKING!!!!!

Relief, gratefulness & rest from the wind & the waves, in God's perfect time. You have seen my doubts, but I am so thankful that my God is true to Himself-even when I doubt Him. "When we are faithless, He remains faithful." Can't think where that is right now......!!!!

This means that we have about a month left untill we can go get him. In that time, they will issue a new BIRTH CERTIFICATE, & PASSPORT. Finally, the U. S. Government will issue approval to have a final DNA test done. At that point, when the test comes back positive, we will have the PINK SLIP issued. The pink slip has the date of our U. S. Visa appointment on it.

Any questions? Have I made it clear as mud?????

(& yes, Ana & I DID do our "We are out of PGN dance!!!-
but I'm so sorry-there's no video!!!! )

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The proud BIG SISTERS!!!!

(Ana on the new duvet for my bed)

Ruth, feeding her doggie her bananna.

And our little guy-who is NOW, FINALLY...............ours!!!!!

Coming home in a month!!!

Thursdays Before the Throne

Strongholds Versus Freedom

“For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds.”

2 Corinthians. 10:4

I have spent the last week thinking about the stronghold of FEAR in my life.

But, I didn’t want you to only see a negative thing as you visit my blog today.

I believe the opposite of a STRONGHOLD is FREEDOM.

I looked up the word “stronghold” because I think it’s always good to have a definition for what you are studying.

It is defined as a “refuge”

In my life, I have been placing each brick to build up a fortress/refuge from fear/pain. I have been fearful that Nathaniel will never come home. I am afraid of that pain I would have in saying goodbye to the dream I have of having my son home.

“Why?,” you might ask.

I have said a forever goodbye before.

November 30, 2004.

In a doctor’s office on the sonogram table-by my husband & precious 3 year old looking on.

My dear husband & daughter were so excited to see legs, arms etc.

But, before the doctor said a word, I KNEW. There was no heartbeat.

The gift we had prayed for-for over a year, was not to be.

Oh, the agony of that good-bye-made even worse by watching Ana “loose” the baby sister she had prayed for since she first began to talk.

I remember sitting at my kitchen table after we arrived home, I clutched my stomach (perhaps in an attempt to hug the child I never would be able to) & began to grieve.

Not silently either. These were loud, agonizing moans-moans that soon dropped me on the floor as I had no strength left to even sit up. Groans from the pit of hell/death. Moans for the baby who would never know a mother’s love.

Holding my tiny baby & saying good-bye as tears streamed down our faces. A memorial service that honored the baby’s life-that never saw the light of day. Oh, the sting of death is so real for me now!

Can you see why I’m afraid? Can you see why it might be a natural thing for me to put up walls to protect my heart?

I’m afraid of pain.

But, the Bible says that “the weapons of my warfare are mighty”

Of course, that led me to Ephesians 6:10-18, where Paul discusses The Armor of God.

God showed me that I had been believing that I could protect myself by retreating into my fortress.

But His word says that fear messes w/ right thinking.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear,

but of power & of love & a SOUND MIND.”
1 Tim. 1:7

Also, His word says:

“Perfect love casts out fear”
1 John 4 :18

~Perfect love was demonstrated when Christ Jesus my Savior walked the earth

~In John 1, Jesus is described as the Word.

~I put the two thoughts together, & I get that I can discover more about Perfect Love in the Word-the Bible. Knowing more about Who Jesus is & His Character, casts away fear. Does this make sense to anyone else?

Knowing more of who He is (though His Word, the Bible), shows me that I no longer need to put up a wall (stronghold of fear). By quoting His word, I put Satan’s lies behind me. Satan is the one who tells me that I should be afraid of where God is taking me. But that is not true.

Of my future, God says,

“ ‘For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord.
Thoughts of peace & not of evil-to give you a future & a hope.’”

Jeremiah 29:11

Do you have a stronghold of fear-fear for the future, fear of pain? Another fear? The answer to tearing down the stronghold is to use His word as Your weapon. Quote it whenever the evil one comes knocking-tempting you to doubt God’s perfect plan for your life. He will flee. The Bible promises it, & I have seen it.

Head Versus Heart

Has the Lord shown You how to make the jump from trusting His word w/ your HEAD to trusting it w/ your HEART?

Psalm 62:8

“Trust in Him at all times, you people;

Pour out your heart before Him;

God is a refuge for us. Selah”

How can you be “trusting” & “pouring out your heart” at the same time?

I am trying to make this leap, so I can REST.

Is it OK to sometimes (while knowing that He is in control) to just LOOSE it w/ Him?

I feel like a little kid, throwing a temper-tantrum.

I say, “I know you are God, & You are working mighty things-way bigger than just Nathaniel’s homecoming. But, I don’t like where you have me right now!!!!!!”

Has the Lord helped you in this area? How has He done it?

Another "Accidental" Occurance

Or not...........

The last verse of this hymn was one thing the Lord brought to mind in my Quiet Time this morning.

Do you think it was an accident that my freind Amy requested this hymn at our Bible Study this morning?

Our hymnal has over 600 hymns in it. The math alone, makes it seem that an accident in this case, is impossible.

Through my choked up throat, I sang of "consolation" that comes only from trusting His word.

Need I remind you, this type of thing has happened to me twice in the last week & a half! God is quietly reminding me that He is at work.

When has the Lord done something like that for you? I would love to hear about it, as these types of stories are so encouraging!

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"Day by Day"

Day by day, and with each passing moment,

Strength I find, to meet my trials here;

Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,

I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.

He Whose heart is kind beyond all measure

Gives unto each day what He deems best—

Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,

Mingling toil with peace and rest.

Every day, the Lord Himself is near me

With a special mercy for each hour;

All my cares He fain would bear, and cheer me,

He Whose Name is Counselor and Pow’r.

The protection of His child and treasure

Is a charge that on Himself He laid;

“As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,”

This the pledge to me He made.

Help me then in every tribulation

So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,

That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation

Offered me within Thy holy Word.

Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,

E’er to take, as from a father’s hand,

One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,

Till I reach the promised land.

~Karolina W. Sandell-Berg,

1865~

School Days.......

How did you picture a School Day in the Dillon household?

We are trying to stay busy:

~Ana is doing extra school-figured this is a good way to get ahead, so we can take time off when Nathaniel comes home.

~Still thinking through the girls' room. We are going to paint COLOR on the walls! If you have texured walls, have you come up w/ ways to paint it besides one color on the wall?

~Also, that room has a SMALL closet. There will be two girls in it. Any ideas on how to organize clothes?

~Trying to find a duvet cover for my bedspread. I am tired of the one I have. I would like dark purple/dark blue. This would require the least amount of room re-decorating, & thus the least amount of money! :-)

World Market, Linens & Things, Target & even, dare I say it?-the bane of my existence-Wal-Mart. Yes, I have darkened the door of each of these stores to look for the perfect duvet cover, to no avail.

Did I mention I really dislike Wal-Mart-especially w/ a tired, cranky 18 month old in tow?

Any other ideas anyone?

I did buy new white sheets-pretty ones. Haven't bought them since we were married 9 1/2 years ago!! High time, don't you think, ha, ha!

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Still no news, as I'm sure you guessed!

Please keep storming heavens gates!

Projects, Pics & Praises!!!!

Ana put Ruth's PJ's on herself this night. They are on backwards!
Working on hot pads. She loves projects!

Got any more ideas, anyone?

I also bought her a latch-hook rug to work on.

Remember either of these projects?

The finished project.

Ana & I re-decorated the mantle over the fire-place.

She must take after me, because we both thoroughly enjoyed this!

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“And it shall be that before they call I will answer;

and while they are yet speaking I will hear.”

Isaiah 65:24

I am claiming this verse for the end of our adoption. We are praising Him, because He IS, right now, answering prayers in the country of Guatemala.

We do not know HOW He is choosing to answer, but we are praying for His perfect timing, & we know that He is answering.

We heard from our case worker (Kelly) in Denver that our lawyer in Guatemala (Ruby) thought our case would be signed off on Friday. It was not, but Ruby is sure that it should be signed on sometime next week, She apparently spoke to someone at PGN, who told her where the file was in the “stack” of files he is working on.

So, hopefully, we should have that good news sometime next week.

Remember, we will still have about a month of time AFTER that before we can go get him.

Have you seen God in this verse in your life? Tell me about it!