The Sound of a Tornado

I have never been in the direct path
of a tornado, but I've seen the destruction.

I wonder when thunderstorms come
if I'd know when to run if
the sound
of a tornado
was coming.

We live in a rural area,
so there'd be no WARNING.

I worry about the deceived people.

Because they might not know
the sound
when Jesus
RETURNS.

You think the destruction
in the path
of a storm
is the worst,
but have you thought
of the destruction
that comes
to the
unbelieving
in Christ?

For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

—Matthew 24:21, 24 NKJV

For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.  Matthew 24:27 NIV

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.  Matthew 24:42-44  NIV

Accepting What You're Given

Every morning, I read a daily devotion from "The One Year Life Verse Devotional" by Jay K. Payleitner.  This is the verse from this morning:

¹⁰ But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong.  Job 2:10  NLT

I then found this verse

Job 36:15
But by means of their suffering, he rescues those who suffer.  For he gets their attention through adversity.
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I tell you Job was one faithfully strong man.   Accept, grow and go.

Renewed

So since Tuesday, I've been going to biblegateway.com to look up Bible verses.  Biblegateway.com has daily Bible verses on its opening.  I feel for the last 3 days they have been for me.  Here is today's:

“but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”  Isaiah 40:31 NIV

This morning I do have renewed strength.  I will run and not grow weary.

Last night, I attended a Bible Study.  Bible Studies have played an important role in leading up to our adoption journey (long, personal story).  I revealed to my classmates that God has decided that I need to do one more Bible study before we pick up our daughter.  There are 8 weeks left in the Bible study and that should be about the time we receive the call to pick her up.   (Of course that is just an approximation.)

We are doing the Beth Moore study about Esther.   Here is the Bible verse that stuck out most to me last night:   1 Corinthians 1:26-31
²⁶ Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸ God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, ²⁹ so that no one may boast before him. ³⁰ It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. ³¹ Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
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I will continue to boast in the Lord.   I will put my faith in the Lord. 

In our country we are good whiners.  The smallest setbacks start our rants.  We feel we have some sort of entitlement or right to something.  We forget that we rarely suffer as much as our Lord Jesus Christ did on that cross, for a wretched people like ourselves. 

Truly take a look at the suffering people in this world.  I'm pretty sure that anyone who was affected by a tornado this year could care less that I have at least one more month waiting for my daughter to come home, when they have lost everything.   It's just a small setback in the bigger picture.  

Be renewed today in the JOY of the Lord.  Be renewed by His strength.  Be renewed with His wisdom.  Stand in awe of Him.

Praise God who carries us in His hands. 
Love in Christ Jesus,
Christina

The Broken Clock

In our Sunday School Class we had a clock that was broken.  We replaced it with a new clock and new batteries.  That clock 2 weeks after it was hung is now also broken and showing the same time this week as it was last week: 12:00.

Seems like our adoption journey is sort of like our clock.  We are stuck.  We are stuck between EP submission and EP approval.  I keep counting down the days and more days were added back onto my clock today.  I don't even know how to count now.

Time will go on and eventually, I will be traveling to Seoul to hold my daughter in my arms.  She will be 18 months old in August.  I hope and pray that nothing else is held up in this process.

To Tell the Truth

Have you ever seen that game show?  I like it, but I am not very good at guessing who the "real" person is that they are describing.  This world is sort of like that.  It is full of lies and people get confused and aren't really sure what they should believe.

Those of us that believe in the Almighty Father have hope.  He never lies.  I would like to share with you the two passages of devotions I read this morning.  The wait for my little girl to come home isn't easy, but these passages give me peace.

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1 NIV

2 Corinthians 12:9  But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Have a Blessed Day!

My Funny DH

Where we live, we are unable to grow a garden because of so many trees and poor dirt quality due to living on a hill.  Yesterday, we were shoveling dirt mixed with manure to make a new garden spot in an extra-large (3 feet x 10 feet  x 18 inches deep at least) container. 

As we were shoveling my dh asks, "Are you suppose to be doing this when you're pregnant?"

He caught me off guard with his sweetness.  I laughed and said, "I don't think the baby will feel a thing." 

Boy, do my arms hurt today though.

God Bless!  Enjoy your weekend.

FINALLY! I can post an update.

I've been having some troubles with blogger lately and haven't been able to sign in.

Our baby girl was submitted for her Emmigration Permit 5/20/11.  That means that as long as the paperwork goes through correctly we should receive her in July. 

My friend C was recently in Korea picking up her son.  She took several pictures of our daughter.  There is no way to repay her for her kindness.  Her and her husband took time out from sightseeing and spending time with their new son to take pictures for me.  I am so honored and blessed by her love.  What a priceless gift in friends like these.  

She's so beautiful. 

Psalm 36:7  How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.