A Growing Faith

In God's timing...

Isn't it such an easy thing to say when you're saying it to encourage someone else in their waiting?
I know I've said it hundreds of times I'm sure.  But when you are saying it yourself, more to remind yourself than to tell the person asking, it's just a little bit harder.

However, God is moving in our waiting.  He is preparing the way on our side by continually providing towards our finances.  We have been so touched by people who choose to sacrifice to help us.  We are confident that we will soon be able to present to expectant families.

We've finished our t-shirt fundraiser and had a great response!
Thank you to all who ordered one.  We expect them in within the next week.  
We've had money donations to our Adopt Together account and to us directly.
My sister has offered to host a Thirty-One party for us in Stilwell with part of proceeds towards our adoption.
My friend has offered to host a Noonday Jewelry party for us here in Tulsa.
Our friend from church is making us a BEAUTIFUL quilt for us to auction off for a donation.

Isn't that all so exciting?!

And suddenly the impossible, doesn't seem so impossible.  Thank you for walking aside us to encourage and support us along the way.

And as always, God continues to challenge me and stretch me.  This week it has been specifically with the word FAITH.

Cody and I had a late night chat one night about just that.
As we discussed the process, it was very evident to me that he was doing better than me with the unknowns.

I know this because he was calm and I was tearful...
...actually...crying...I was crying...
I do this a lot.  You can ask my closest friends and my Sunday School class of youth girls...
Really good day. I may cry.
Hard day. Yep, I cry.
Stressful day.  You better believe it.

Anyways, back to the story.
I could tell that emotionally, I was worn.

I wanted to have the faith that Cody had.  The faith that allows you to rest well knowing God has got this.  The faith of the woman in Luke 8:43-48 who reached out and touched Jesus to be healed.

"And Jesus said, "Who was it that touched me?"  When all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!"  But Jesus said, "Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me." And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed.  And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace."

I have always loved that story.  Don't you just want a faith like that?  To just reach toward Jesus knowing and BELIEVING in His power?  And not just knowing that He's powerful, but remembering that He cares for you? 

Our pastor and friend, Rick Frie, shared with us this week something that really stuck with me.  He said,

"Our focus shouldn't be on the size of the challenge, but on the size of our God."

This has been a beautiful lesson for me this week.  The reminder that the same God who healed the woman in Luke loves ME, cares for ME and is much bigger than my challenge.

The same God who healed the centurion servant from a distance because of the faith of the centurion.

The same God.  The challenge isn't bigger than what God has done before and what God can do.
The difference is my faith.

And so, the last few days have been better. 

Peaceful. 

As I learn to rest in God.

I'm not at a place yet where I have the faith of those spiritual giants in the Bible that I admire.

But you know what....it's growing.