If I Perish....I Perish....

So we are done with our part with taking classes for this kinship/foster care stuff…We still have to get a home inspection to be licensed so we can communicate and get information about these littles…Ugh, such a long process…Technically, I’ve been waiting for four years for this to happen…Sometimes on the edge of my seat waiting to see what the Lord was going to do with it…I prayed and asked God to close the door as a “sign” to us if we shouldn’t press on with the process, thinking the closed door would be His will not to adopt...I’ve learned that closed doors are not always from God, A closed door is just a closed door, or other times it can be the enemy, who doesn’t want you to go where Jesus leads you…Apparently, any of the closed doors that closed over the past four years were not a “sign” that we shouldn’t adopt because we are still walking through doors…Man, I typed the word “doors” a lot..Ha! 

All kidding aside, what a Faithful God…Sign or no sign it’s obviously we are to press on…I don’t really know what will happen…What I do know is, my desire will always be to grow deeper in my relationship with Jesus, and this Christian life to walk as Jesus did, is my purpose!!

Even when we are in a season of doing the same things day in and day out, God has something for us around the corner, because HE wants to grow deeper with us…He’s always ready, yet patient…It may be something we least expected,  but none the less, any trial He has allowed to cross your path has been worth the depth you and I now have with the Lord...I love, love, love how He sets up the next step even when we don’t see it coming or we think it’s gone forever...I’m so thankful to Him for putting the exact scripture verses and books in my path for me to see what the next deeper steps are in our relationship…Not only for me, but for everyone in my path and for these 2 little sweethearts  I don’t even know…What an awesome God!

That closed door thing I spoke about came from this awesome book I’m reading, “Come With Me” by Suzanne Eller…I never heard of her, but man, oh, man, this book is all about going deeper in your relationship with Jesus, and it has very challenging questions it asks you to ask yourself… I have to admit, sometimes the questions were a little scary…The first question in the intro asks, "What would you say if Jesus walked up to you right now, today, and said 
these words."

Come with Me...
Wherever I lead...
Whatever the price...
Do you say yes?

When I first read it, I actually hesitated for a second thinking about my husband and kids, of course, but only because if they didn’t know where I was, they would worry… And, I do admit, my heart stopped because on what Jesus meant it would be possible for me to never see my husband or kids again…Not a hug goodbye or a kiss, nothing...Ugh, that hurts a little, but, for me, it’s an astounding YES!!!! I’ll follow you anywhere, Jesus! I’m outta here, people!!! Ha!

The next section in this book talked about not missing out on our greatest opportunity and talked about what if Simon Peter hadn't dropped his nets a second time…What words would describe his story? Perhaps his life would have been described as safe or familiar….A man with salt on his cheeks as he fished all night... A fisher of men? I don't think so.”

It was crazy for me to read "dropped his nets a second time" because I feel we will be dropping our nets a second time if we adopt these little sweethearts…I know, that I know, that I know, God has something amazing for me, for my family, for all involved…I know, that I know, that I know, this could be discouraging, tiring, and probably down right hard as heck…But God, is all I have to say about that...As my dear friend Ann Pierce reminded me a few weeks ago, "If I perish, I perish.” ❤️

Colossians 2:6-7
And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him.  Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.