WE: Unformed

Can I tell you a story? (6)

LOGISTICS update
Money is coming in.
I know we had a total of about $14,000 come in last week.
We have not received a new “current total” yet, this week.
I will update you as soon as we do have one.
We are reaching out and sharing to as many sources as we can think of.
We are hopeful.
Tomorrow at 4pm, we have another meeting with a few doctors and others within the UNC hospital who are committed to helping us with fundraising.
We will update you on how that goes.
Continued prayers and shares needed;)

I appreciated my husband sharing this quote from AW Tozer earlier this week:
“God never hurries. There are no deadlines against which he must work. Only to know this is to quiet our spirits and relax our nerves.” 

mornings as of late…”waking up Adam” and “never resting Elliot”;)


So I have been away from the computer for a few days.
But rest assured, we have not forgotten “stories”;)
We have continued to raise Ebenezers, and we want to share them with you
New stories of His faithfulness are springing up each day.
We have been overwhelmed (in the best kind of way) with many beautiful friends visiting lately.
It has been lovely but I just could not justify stealing away to the computer during these last few days;)
In the midst of these days full of dear ones, His faithfulness has been so evident.
And we want to share a bit with you;)

A precious new friend, Michelle, visited and overwhelmed us with her love, encouragement and support. 

                    

She is a physical therapist and was full of ideas for Adam.She also is the one who had the Vintage shop, online, called Sentimental Heart. You can see her shop HERE. She has given a portion of purchases in the past to Adam’s funds. It is amazing to me the friend we have found in Michelle. Her visit was so good for our family. I had lots of good chats with her, Raja and I got to go on a date, we played outside endlessly, and enjoyed bottomless pots of tea;)
                                        

I adore Michelle and cannot get enough of her;)

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I also was ecstatic to have a reunion with the girls I used to travel to India with, just a few years ago. I met two of these girls, Liz and Annie, in 2006 on our first trips to India. Then Amanda joined us all in 2009 when we went back for a longer commitment. (One dear friend, Scout, who also was with us in 2009, could not join us). To say these girls refreshed my heart would be an understatement. 

I think a trip down memory lane is appropriate…

current; 2013
sleeper train, India, november 2009

Basically every conversation we have is seasoned with salt & tears & laughter…and points me heavenwards. We have walked thru some deep valleys together…questioning so so much. We have seen things end up in ways we would never have desired if it was our own design. We have not been able to care for kids we would have given our lives for. We have had to trust them in a loving Father’s hands…Whose ways are beyond our ways.

But when we look back and remember, though there were many painful times and seasons of questioning His purposes and His justice…we look back and we see a hand of a faithful Father who begins the good work…and who finishes it.

December, 2009; picking up the kids from the bus stop

lice treatments, delhi rooftop, october 2009
It was so good for me to be surrounded with them this weekend as there is so many uncertainties lying ahead in my own life. We have walked roads paved with uncertainty together in years past. But the certainty of Him and His presence never escaped us. These 3 reminded me of that Truth this weekend.
Last night together, current 2013
It took us 3 years to all be able to join up again. SO MUCH has happened since those years together in India. But He has not left nor forsaken us…but has only shown Himself more faithful with each day that passes.
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Then, just when I thought the encouragement could not come any stronger…I get a text from a dear friend
Her name is Melody and she is a woman whom I have respected for a long time. 
She blogs and has a fabulous handmade shop HERE

Anyways, she and her sweet husband are traveling all over this summer and happened to be driving thru CH
So they stopped by and blessed us with a visit!
They are a beautiful family
Raja and I often talk about how refreshing it is to be reminded of joy in the moment
How beautiful it is to be grateful for the present place where we are 
And to live in it, worship Him in it, and dance in the freedom of life
To have a spirit of contentment in Him 
This family does that
They live for an audience of One
And they do it in grace and love
And we are so thankful we got an afternoon with them!
in front of their vintage camper;)

a bit chaotic…but that is where the beauty is right?

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One humid & rainy afternoon last week, I was tempted to get discouraged
I was just a bit overwhelmed..with all that we still needed
I was wondering how it would all happen
I wondered how Adam would ever have his cleft palate repaired

I remembered that I had written THIS
And that I testified that “even if” this money did not come…
I would wait and trust in Him
I testified that my faith is not merited on what He gives
But on WHO HE IS
But I was struggling to live that out this particular day

Then I ate dinner at my FAVORITE indian restaurant with these ladies
On the right is Amanda, a best friend of mine mentioned earlier, who spent nearly 3 years with me in India.
She had been in town visiting which was balm for my soul.
(Amanda breathes His word and reminds me of His sovereign and all sufficient faithfulness hourly)
So we got to indulge in some favorite food…
And we got to meet two new friends for dinner

And we heard one gorgeous African speak thru bodily scars, of a good God who always provides

You know this quote by Kahlil Gibran?
“Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.”

Though it is perhaps hard to swallow (because scars mean pain and hardship)
It is such truth.
I have seen it in the life of my boy Adam
I have seen it in Hadassah
Scars are beautiful
Though much pain brings them
Sovereign grace is able to bring strength and truth and redemption thru them

And as we sat at a table with these 4 ladies, a new friend(whose name I will keep from sharing)
Shared a bit of her own story
“Seared with scars” is an understatement to be honest
She has walked thru hell on earth
She is now safe
But she searched far and wide for a place of refuge for herself and her 6 little ones
By His sovereign grace, she found it
And she praises Him because of it
And as I sat there on her left hand side
(Mouth watering from eating delicious curries and succulent dishes)
My eyes filled with tears as I heard her struggle

Tears, becauseI heard her speak of His provision throughout her struggle
Despite a life of pain and suffering, she still saw Him as good
She said many ask her why she even wants to live anymore
Do you know what she said?
She said that if God “came down to serve ME”…
HOW can I look at Him with anger and questioning?”

She saw that Holiness came to serve flesh
She saw that Holiness came and died to redeem flesh
And when she saw that, it silenced her fear and anger at this present darkness

“He is good” she said
She said He was with her despite all the pain and all the temptations to scorn Him along the way
When this woman speaks of a good God who provides all that we need
I must have hope

As I heard this woman, alone with 6 children
In a foreign land
Whose body and heart have experienced pain beyond what my mind can fathom
As I heard her testify to faith in Him and joy in His provision

My feet were again steadied
My faith strengthened
And my eyes reminded to fix themselves on Him

But, let’s be honest…
Most of all, I see scars and healing most in the life of my Savior.
Those Holy, yet nail pierced, hands
And that side, divine, yet speared and pouring forth blood…
Those scars, that Thomas (doubting) saw
Were evidence of the blood necessary for our salvation.
They were evidence that in order to make souls, sinful, free
One, perfect, was necessary

They were evidence that THE MOST MASSIVE CHARACTER
The perfect, spotless LAMB
Was seared with scars
So that all ours could be forgiven

His nail pierced scars are the explanation to purpose in pain

His speared side is the reason why we can be “sorrowful yet always rejoicing”

Because, He took our punishment
And laid on us His inheritance
He took the scars WE DESERVE
And invite us thru His Gates of Splendor
And gives us a reason to sing

He heals the brokenhearted 
He binds up their wounds

Dear ones, He provides
Again and again
He provides

Let us not fret

If He looked on the oncoming destruction of our own souls
If He saw that provision was needed
And if He met that provision thru
HIS OWN FLESH AND BLOOD

Who are we to doubt His continual provision?

“Do not worry about anything. Instead, by prayer and petition give THANKS to God…
And that peace that passes all understanding will comfort your hearts and minds”


Comments

  1. Thank you for your story today, it fueled hope into my heart for my trials… continuing to pray for all your needs to be met by the One who can meet them. I "found" you through my good and long time friend Mary Shingler. What a gift you are Jessica. God is using your story to glorify Himself in countless ways.

  2. agree with the above..
    God is an awesome God.. I am praying that you reach your financial goal.. it is an amazing story… I am soo anticipating what the Lord is going to do in this boy Adams life.. he is beautiful in every way.. and I Thank God I happen across your story today.. I needed this reminder that God Loves us no matter what.. and even when our ugly/sadness/hurt is hidden which so many of us can relate to..