WE: Unformed

Expanding Tents…on Holy Ground

So I cannot get this story off my mind nor my heart.
I debated sharing it on our blog.
For 2 reasons.
But Abba Father has silenced both of those reasons with His voice.
And after celebrating Orphan Sunday, I cannot keep quiet.

Firstly, the fact that I do not know this family personally was a reason.
Surely, they may think I am crazy for sharing…and then, you, readers, may find it strange to share.
But the fact is,

My son would not have eyelids today,
My son may not even be alive if it were not for the sovereign grace
of our Creator King
who moved people
whom
I DID NOT EVEN KNOW to give in huge amounts for surgeries to happen.

We had to raise $100,000 before his eyes could be operated on and dear ones, you responded beyond what we could have asked or imagined!
Within 4 days, it was there.

And MOST of it came from people I have never met.
THAT is humbling.
Because countless people shared on blogs and in churches and in newspapers.
People shared who I may never know this side of eternity.
And
People I do know, but who gave silently and sacrificially.
Who loved and gave selflessly…not looking for acknowledgement
But who were led to be a part of the story that the God-man was writing of my son’s life.
THAT is humbling.

Do you remember this post?

Not only then, but now, we are standing on Holy Ground.
For all around us, the God man is weaving glimpses of glory into broken lives.
And creating exquisite testimonies of Himself.
And bringing families that we could never create on our own, together.
He takes the foolish things to shame the wise.
And He takes what seems impossible to turn our eyes onto Himself.

And my son now has eyes to see.

My second hesitation, which I am embarrassed to vocalize from this heart of little faith, is that I do not want to overwhelm or exhaust people who have given or plan to give for future surgeries in Adam’s life.
But let’s be honest, our Abba set planets into motion
He stretched out the sky over empty space
He hangs the earth on nothing
What we see of Him are just the fringes of His glory
We draw from a Well that does not run dry.
It will not run dry for my Adam, nor for this family.
For it is Himself that we are pulling from.
He was the Rock that was struck in that desert, dry, to give His people drink.
And He is the Rock who pours forth Living Water day by day for us.
And another thing, let’s be honest, funds and such is not what this blog is about.
This blog is for the praise of His Name.
It is not about surgeries.
Nor money.
Nor funds.
It is about praising Him for the tents He is expanding.
On holy ground.
So, forgive me, for those thoughts.
And let me share with you a beautiful story.
That I first heard of thru a writer whose words and whose family testifies to His handiwork again and again.
I first read the story of these 2 best friends from an orphanage in Uganda on her blog.
One of those best friends.
Is not an orphan any longer.
She is now the eldest daughter in this beautiful family.
Her name is Lily.
Her best friend, Stella, is still at that orphanage.
Clinging to a heavenly Father and trusting His plans to care for her.
Even when she sees her best friend depart with a loving family.
And the one, first adopted, continued to pray for her dear Stella.
As did her family.
They refused to forget the one still behind.
And Abba heard.
Stella’s story was scribed in those nail scarred hands as well.
She is to be adopted.
Not just by anyone.
But by a family who walks closely with Lily’s family.
Best friends being adopted by best friends.
Does that make sense?
Can you understand the beauty of this?
Older children are some of the last to be adopted.
These are 2 best friends who have spent their lives within confined walls of an overcrowded home.
Who probably could have never imagined life outside.
With mom and dad, brothers, sisters.
But, He had a different story.
That was established before the foundation of the world.
Because He loves to make much of Himself.
And His redemptive plans for our brokenness.
And now Lily’s prayers are being answered as she is seeing her best friend being sought after.
Adopted.
By a dear friend of her new family.
THAT is beautiful.

THIS is holy ground.

I have lived in the walls of a home in North India with many parent-less ones.
And I know the value of friendships within those children.
I know how those girls cling to one another.
I cannot imagine the pain of 2 girls
After spending years
Sharing beds in a home, crowded.
After sharing food
When the rations are small
After removing lice
From heads itching.
After sharing difficulties I cannot imagine 
To then  be separated 
After they have cried tears that I, always mothered and fathered, cannot imagine.
After having shared secret longings and deep treasures with one another on rooftops.
Words exchanged that only best friends and the stars above hear whispers of.
To then be separated.
One adopted and one waiting.
The adopted, praying and longing, for Him to give her treasured friend the inheritance she has stepped into.
The one waiting, faithfully trusting and humbly rejoicing at the joy and family of the one adopted.
AND THEN!
To imagine the joy of that ONE.
To then be found!
For her God-orchestrated mom and dad to cross oceans to rescue her.
Oh!
The joy!
But isn’t that how He does it?
Again and again.
He leaves 99 behind for 1.
This Stella is that one today.
Will you join this journey?
For the journey here, on this blog, is so much bigger than “Baby Adams Journey”
It is a Journey of Redemption, the whole world over.
Where He is expanding tents on holy ground.
And He invites us into it.
To pitch our tent.
And let Him expand it.
As this family expands theirs, will you consider giving, praying, and considering the goodness of our God?
Please click HERE 
Be encouraged by the words of Lily’s mom.
And find at the bottom of the page how to give towards Stella coming home.