04.24.13

the update is that there is no update.

no one is answering phones in india regarding our adoption.

possible explanation is power outages last week.

no bad news, but no good news either.

we know that the RIPA's license is expired. {that's the orphanage title}

our agency is calling and emailing CARA weekly to find out what this means.

we do know that our process stopped when this was made aware to us.

CARA asks that our agency and us wait as they work on this.

we're not the only ones waiting.

we're not the only ones in a process.

we're not the only ones who are wondering, "what if..."

we're not the only ones struggling with fears of uncertainty.

is this you?

floating inside the bubble of uncertainty causes the fears and mind games to stay in close proximity.

you tell yourself you're not going crazy, but you peer over to the left side of you, thinking you heard something.

you look behind you thinking you saw something.

what would normally seem like everyday news, has you on pins and needles.

what might have usually scared you, now has your heart beating at a rapid rate.

your stress level mounts and your body tenses up.

in the past, what you would do to relax and unwind, is just not working these days.

forget eating healthy, you want comfort food.

forget that workout, it can wait until tomorrow.

that special person in your life needs you, but they can wait.

don't they understand what you're going through? geez.

i know i'm not alone in this.

i hear a friend tell me of health issues that aren't resolved.

i look at someone else who waits for a job placement.

i see it in her body language that she is weak from the process.

he looks like fear is eating him up.

i feel like i'm floating today.

floating in the bubble of uncertainty that causes my fears to play mind games.

the fears are ever so close to me. i breath them in, but forget to breath them out.

they lodge themselves inside and build animosity and anxiety.

i have forgotten... {this is the crucial part that must be read aloud if at all possible}

"there is no fear in love, but perfect love cast out all fear. for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love." 1 John 4.18

"for you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, 'Abba! Father!'" Romans 8.15

"for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." 2 Timothy 1.7

"in peace, I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety." Psalm 4.8

"say to those who have an anxious heart, 'Be strong; fear not! behold, your Lord God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.' Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped...the thirsty grounds springs of water...and the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." Isaiah 35.4,7,10

"the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." John 10.10

whether it's a girl in india or __________ {fill in the blank}...

your mind is a beautiful thing that God intends to use for His good.

if we give fear, which comes from the devil, a playspace in our minds, we shrivel up in self-pity and can't live the day God has created for us.

we can fight from the ground in prayer.

we can fight standing up by opening up the curtains, breathing in the fresh air, and putting one foot before the other.

no matter what the time of day, we can say the name of Jesus and heavenly movement happens. He hears.

we can say 'no' and take those evil thoughts captive under the name of Jesus.

James 4.7 tells us, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

let's keep fighting for that which God has placed before us.

that passion He has given you to pursue.

that job He has gifted you in.

that child you long to conceive.

that friendship you long to be mended.

that illness you want to go away.

that son or daughter you want to return.

that church you want to see thrive.

update or no update, our great God is on the throne and His plans cannot be thwarted.

 in your life, in my life, in this part of the world, in the uttermost parts of the world.