What does this mean?

I shared the news with Samuel. He understands the need to work quickly if we are to adopt at this time in Viet Nam yet he did not seem moved. I was a bit shocked but wondered what was going on. I mean this is the man who wants his life full of children, see our large table filled with faces who call him Papi. It was his initial idea to adopt and adopt again and his idea to begin this adoption as soon as we could. So what was this reaction , or lack of one all about? At that moment I did not know how to interpret his actions and felt so far from his heart. I wanted to ask him to share how he felt but a seed from heaven dropped into my heart and I knew he was wrestling... and I... needed to pray.

Just the right timing...

I just heard today from another family that our agency would be allowing certain families to move forward with an adoption in Viet Nam. If they moved forward it had to be with an understanding of the uncertainties and risks, the greatest of these being the lose of the child they had chosen to adopt if the process was not completed while there was an agreement in place. I have not doubt this news came in God's timing, after receiving Psalm 68 in prayer.

I thought I would jump for joy at the opportunity to move forward but I am now wondering if my heart isn't being moved somewhere else...Ethiopia.

Psalm 68

As I was praying this morning I felt the Lord lead me to Psalm 68. Praying specifically about the adoption and where our child would come from I was anxious to see what it read.

1Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.

2As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.

3But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.

4Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.

5A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.

6God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

7O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah:

8The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

9Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.

10Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.

11The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.

12Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil.

13Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.

14When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon.

15The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; an high hill as the hill of Bashan.

16Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the LORD will dwell in it for ever.

17The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.

18Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.

19Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.

20He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death.

21But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses.

22The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea:

23That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies, and the tongue of thy dogs in the same.

24They have seen thy goings, O God; even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.

25The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels.

26Bless ye God in the congregations, even the Lord, from the fountain of Israel.

27There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.

28Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.

29Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee.

30Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people that delight in war.

31Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.

32Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; Selah:

33To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice.

34Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.

35O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.

All I could do was weep. God's answer to me was clear. It was He who set the solitary in families. I was to do what He had called me to and He would take care of the rest...

Information in hand...

With countless information packets and DVDs we pray once again for God's leading. So how will we know what to do? I have feared "missing the boat" in the past but having seen HIS hand move so markedly before I can only trust in HIS faithfulness, towards us and more importantly towards this child we desire to call our own.

I must confess that I find myself feeling lead to look at information about Ethiopia. The history, the people, the culture, the need... I shared this with Samuel. He was interested but I could tell it did not move his heart as it did mine. Instead of speaking to him about it again (I do not want to move his heart) I have prayed asked the Lord to move on his heart if my feelings were any part of God's plan for our family.