resolve

resolve.

ben's dad, mr. joe, has been in town and i always soak up anything he says about cooking and about God.

and he knows a lot about both.

we had a conversation about resolve.

the resolve to only drink water before going to a restaurant.

the resolve to only buy at the store what's on the list.

daniel resolved in his heart not to eat the king's food. that resolve had to happen before the food was put before him.

joseph resolved in his heart ahead of time how he would respond to potiphars's wife. and that resolve was needed day after day.

  on sunday, as i sat beside my pastor-husband who was about to talk about joseph and also sat beside mr. joe, i considered their wisdom and sat down to journal as praise songs filled our basement church.

my thoughts took me to the other side of the world, where a little girl plays and eats and sits and wonders.

God, i love You and believe You are in control and know what's best. regardless what news we receive this week, i want to be steadfast in my love, my response, my praise to You.

we got word last week that the united states approves us up to this point to adopt "k." it's called the article 5 letter. oh, we're grateful.

we assume, that after a few emails, the orphanage director has this document and is working to get our paperwork to the adoption recommendation committee who reviews our case next.

we have absolutely no idea when this committee meets. this month. next month. five months from now.

it wouldn't take me long to go stir crazy trying to figure this out and play out a dozen scenarios from best to worst.

i must resolve in my heart.

"though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet i will rejoice in the Lord; i will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord is my strength." Habakkuk 3:17-19

come what may. come what may not. He is still God. He is still in control.

and i think how does He have time for me. there's so many others in darker places. more desperate places.

but a promise was put before me...

"can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. behold, I have engraved you on the palm of My hands; your walls are continually before Me." Isaiah 49:15-16

try it. write on your hand. even when looking out before you, in your peripheral view, you will see ink.

He has not forgotten you.

He has not forgotten me.

He has not forgotten "k."

and come what may, i resolve in my heart to praise Him no matter what.

how about you?

what resolve do you need to declare to Him and to yourself?

consider it a praise to Him today.