Grateful/Thankful Thursday - Some Thoughts

Kind of funny, don't you think, how Grateful/Thankful Thursday seems to come at such strategic times in my life.

Yesterday we heard that Ch*na had withdrawn their approval of us to be Jubilee's parents. Today is Grateful/Thankful Thursday.

A few months back, on a Wednesday, our home was destroyed by fire. The very next day, being a Thursday, was Grateful/Thankful Thursday.

I am reminded that we are to be grateful/thankful in ALL circumstances, because this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning me/us.

Even as a young girl that verse troubled me. In All circumstances? I mean, come on Lord, really? ALL? I wondered about it for years.

Every year I meditate on a different verse for the entire year. Sometimes it is just a phrase. Sometimes it is a whole verse. I ask God to melt it into my heart, making my heart beat to His, so that I can understand Him and His will for me.

A few years ago I meditated on this very verse, "In everything give thanks for this is the will of God, in Christ Jesus, concerning you." (I Thes. 5:18)

You wouldn't believe the stuff that happened that year. Wow! And each time I would say, "Even this?" To which the answer was always, "Yes, this too." And I would audibly say, "I give thanks for such-n-such because this is your will for me."

That year was a good learning curve. So yesterday when I heard this news, I knew that God was still working and that inspite of it all, I needed to give thanks. True thanks. I may not understand. Infact, that's a given. I definitely don't understand. But I know intimately the One that does.

When Ch*na said, "no" to Isaiah after giving us pre-approval, the Lord showed me this verse, "He who hopes in Him will not be disappointed." (Is. 49:23)

Because of God's faithfulness and miraculous movement on the government of Ch*na during Isaiah's adoption we are confident that He can do it again. Infact I am confident that He WILL do it again. I am trusting Him, and according to His word, I will not be disappointed.

When we were naming Jubilee, we could not come up with a middle name for anything. We tried everything, it just didn't sound right. I was upstairs in our bedroom in our little log home and I had just got down on my knees and said, "Come on Lord, we need a middle name for her, please speak." And instantly, out of nowhere, in an almost audible voice, "Promise." We loved it. It fit perfectly. She had been a Promise to me about 10 years prior. Here's what I journaled about her that day. I just had no clue the double significance (completely prophetic) of her middle name - until yesterday.

So today, I am grateful/thankful for those of you who are standing with us.....being our Aaron and Hur - holding up our arms through this very spiritual battle. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I am grateful/thankful for the Promises of God....His living word, so alive today....His promises that we can cling to, for He is completely faithful. Never for even a moment in time has He removed His faithfulness. He is our friend. Completely faithful. Totally trustworthy. Rock steady. Able to move foreign governments. Able to change c*mmunist hearts. Able to bring a Promise home.

Thank you Sarah for this:

The Lord answer you in the day of trouble! The name of the God of Jacob protect you! May he send you help from the sanctuary, and give you support from Zion. May he remember all your offerings, and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices. May he grant you your heart's desire, and fulfill all your plans. May we shout for joy over your victory, and in the name of our God set up our banners. May the Lord fulfill all your petitions. Now I know that the Lord will help his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with mighty victories by his right hand. Some take pride in chariots, and some in horses, but our pride is in the name of the Lord our God. They will collapse and fall, but we shall rise and stand upright. Give victory to the king, O Lord; answer us when we call. Psalm 20