Forms, Blessings and Locusts

The next day after our agency called us about our LOA- we received a stack of new papers to sign and send back immediately.

There was all sorts of information to fill out for our visas, USCIS had more forms for immigration approval, our agency had more forms, and our LOA needed to be signed.   Some of it needed to be notarized.

We rushed to get them finished and overnighted back to our agency.

Ken had the flu, but we needed one more passport photo for his visa, so we drove over, got his picture, made a quick stop at the pharmacy for his medicine, and then got him back home to bed.
What a wonderful daddy, already sacrificing even while sick. :)

I was thinking how interesting it is that we were busy, scurrying around to get everything done, when half-way across the world there is a little girl probably having a calm sort of day, with no understanding of all the commotion being raised, for her benefit.

We got a packet of travel information- Wow, that makes it all seem so much more real!

Recently, I had been adding up the items we had been selling from the rummage sale, and we were just at about $2,000.    I told the Lord that I was so glad for the $2,000, but what I would really like is another $2,000.  That's what I really wanted, because well, we needed it.  :)

We then received a letter from our agency saying that we had an anonymous donation of $2100 credited to our account.    Such a wonderful blessing.   Interesting, there was $100 more than what I asked for.    I think it is an Ephesians 5:20 deal, "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think...."    God just does above what we ask.

When we received that packet of papers with our LOA, we also received another bill, and so this money was a very big blessing because it covered almost the entire amount!  What wonderful timing! 

I think one of the most intimidating aspects for most folks with an adoption is the financial cost-and I truly don't know what is going to happen with all of ours.   It's amazing to me really, because when I quit working to stay with our little one, we wondered how it would even work, and that was 3 years ago.    And now we are adopting a child-and including all of those costs, it does seem crazy.  

In the book of Joel, he talks about the great destruction power of the locusts.  He says "They do not push one another; Every one marches in his own column.   Though they lunge between the weapons, They are not cut down"  (Joel 2:8).

The phrase "They are not cut down" can also be described as "they are not halted by losses".

It's so true because the locust just keeps moving.   If he stopped every time he looked to the right, and saw one of his buddies getting squished by a broom or a foot, well he wouldn't make much progress.

However, the reason the locusts are something to fear, is not because they are very big or powerful, but because they keep moving.

They are not halted by losses.

If we stop to mourn a loss.   If we stop to contemplate something difficult in our lives we lose out- because what we need to do -is to always keep moving forward.

That is something that the enemy fears.   He wants us to stop and be concerned.   What he doesn't want is for us to keep moving forward.

The locust is a little guy- but he is frightening- because he doesn't stop.

So with our adoption- we don't stop to figure out how much exactly we don't have- we just keep moving forward.

All that to say-keep moving forward brothers and sisters- follow what God has for you - don't stop because of a loss or difficulty- just keep moving forward!!