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Check out this family’s blog http://fromlouisiana2china.blogspot.com/
They are having a fund raiser for this very cool camera.
The fund raiser to it to raise money for their adoption to China. What an important cause.
I sometimes feel guilty thinking I am persecuted. There are many places around our world that truly do persecute and oppress Christians or others for who they are.
So I am not comparing the two. There is a huge difference between fleeing for your life and not getting a job promotion; hiding in secret places to worship God and being mocked for your beliefs; being disowned by your family for your faith and being ignored by friends because of your faith; or being imprisoned for sharing Christ and having to speak “politically” correct because of your government.
Even though the two don’t compare, sometimes as we walk in this rich, spoiled, comfortable society as Christians we really do have Satan persecuting us, and he is using the world around us as his tool! When it happens, because we have been so used to living in health and wealth (yes, wealth) we don’t recognize it as an attack from Satan.
We should not be surprised when we are suffering this way. The bible warns us about it all over scripture. The bible also repeatedly tells us who is on the throne and that our Sovereign Lord sees all, hears our cries for help and will bring all things together for the good of those who love Him. We can rest in that, giving us eternal peace.
I love what Peter tell us about this topic.
1 Peter 1:3-4
“In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-kept in heaven for you.” (We really can rest in that fact alone and not worry about our circumstances in our lives. But in the mean time.)
vs 6
“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
1 Peter 3:9
“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing”
vs 13
“Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. “
1 Peter 4:12-14
“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. “
vs 16
“However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.”
I Peter 5:8-9
“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”
(okay, okay last late post..for now. Toby’s 6th birthday was on February 25th, so I am finally caught up)
What can I tell you about our Toby John? This little person in our family, is one sweet, active and smart guy. He also, is very determined to do things his own way a lot of the time. He keeps our home interesting and a joy. I have always said that Toby is full of passion. Passion for everything that comes his way. Sometimes he tends to obsess a bit too much. I know without a doubt that if we can help and teach him to stay on the righteous path, then the Lord will use him for great and mighty things. Toby has heroic, warrior blood. He has an inner desire to stand up for what is right and he will knock down whatever is in his way. I know these traits can do damage as well, so we are careful to keep directing him to God’s way.
Tobias (which means God is good) came into this world as a fighter. He was born via an induction when 5 days past my due date, his heart rate was erratic and dipping very low. It ended up that the cord was around his neck and he even got stuck while delivering as well. I kept telling my doctor that I felt he was my biggest yet, she wasn’t so convinced. But when he was born the scale read 10lbs 6 oz and she agreed! Right away he had blood sugar problems, which can be common in babies that large. He wouldn’t nurse too long due to sleepiness, so to avoid bottles I agreed to let them do an IV . They also checked his oxygen level, which they learned were well below normal. It ended up he had a pocket in his lungs that did not close up when he took his first breaths. This condition is called pneumothorax. This condition often goes missed in a newborn because the nurses don’t typically check the oxygen level of the baby. We know now that the God was putting all of this together to save his life.
Shortly after he was put in NICU I began rapidly deteriorating. While the nurses thought my initial blood pressure dip and vomiting was due to the epidural wear off, it ended up that I was hemorrhaging. The second time my pressure dropped dangerously low, I felt myself feeling so sick and in pain that I couldn’t think straight, I really thought I was dieing. The on call doctor performed an emergency procedure that likely saved my life, while I was still awake. Shortly after that they whisked me off to surgery. It was good that Tobias was being cared for by the doctors and nurses, and that Jay could concentrate on me.
By the end of surgery I had 5 pints of blood and was very weak and emotional. It was scary to accept that in that short of a time from everyone being happy that Toby was here and all was okay, to both of us fighting for our lives. God IS so Good and we know that He had his hand on us.
Now, back to me sweet boy. Tobias loves to build anything! Legos are probably his top choice, but he likes Lincoln Logs, Duplos and more. He loves anything about wars and military. He says he wants to be a soldier and a fire fighter. I know he is capable of doing both. He will draw pictures of his stick figure battles and he thinks each part of through. He is also a snuggler. He loves to get massaged on the back and have big hugs. We are so thankful for this little boy God has blessed us with.
Tobias 5 days old with Grandma.
Toby at 5 months old.
Toby just learning to walk! 12 months old.
Tyler gave Toby his favorite toy, “Legos”
Tob, Jake and Nea opening gifts.
Toby wanted Strawberry Shortcake with ice cream and chocolate chips on top!
Our “baby” is getting so big!
About 10 years ago I began purposely avoiding watching or reading the news. It seemed that some of it was always exaggerated or biased against conservatives and even Christians, and most of it was tragedies that left me feeling raw and vulnerable. So, to keep myself from staying up late at night, worrying over the safety of my family and friends, I began purposely avoiding it. There were even a few times that I would feel paralyzed with the fear of the unknown, and that was a feeling I wanted to avoid at all cost.
If something urgent was on the news for me to know about, Jay would inform me and fill me in with what was going on in our world. He is sensitive to my heart and has the ability to not let the difficult, painful things of our world overtake his thoughts. All that to say, I am not naive to reality. I truly understand there is evil and calamity all around us. There is a world that teaches and believes lies. And there are those that go against even the “world’s standards”, committing horrific things against the innocent.
But as of the last couple years, I have cautiously allowed myself to read and know a little bit more. Because I have many eyes watching the same things I see, I am learning that I need to be alert and understand even more, so I can help my children have the ability to deal with disaster, hurting people and fears. Instead of being severely anxious over what I read, I have been taking it to the Lord. At times, some situations do keep me up for several nights in a row. A lot of the situations around me involved people I know and love personally. Instead of laying in bed fretting over the unknown and my lack of control over it, I now pray for God’s faith to be stronger in me. I pray for God to help the weak and the victims. I pray for him to either save the wicked or punish them, He knows best. I pray for my own children to become His warriors fighting against the sin and wickedness that so prevail our world. Sometimes I sing a hymn quietly in bed. Sometimes if my fear is great I rebuke Satan out loud to leave me alone. I am starting to purposely memorize scriptures that give me strength and courage, sometimes I repeat those out loud.
Often, I will have this spiritual battle, (I understand now that is what it is) for several nights in a row over one, or two, maybe even three situations. I might get 4 hours of sleep. I used to fret that I would be so tired the following day and that would upset me. Now, I have learned that yes my mind may be a little spacey the next day, but I am still able to care for my family and often I am more patient and humble, because I am keenly aware that I am weak and need the Lord to hold me up, having no choice but to rely in His strength and not my own. After a couple days of this prayer time at night, the Lord has always then given me nights with plenty of rest. It may be weeks until I have this scenario again. I am also beginning to realize that when I don’t pray about a situation during the day like I should, because I am too busy, those are often the times that the Lord allows me to be awake at night to commune with Him and have my faith grow.
I have been reading through Jeremiah the last couple weeks. Today I was reading again the Lord’s punishment and rebuke to the lying prophets and sinful Israelites. His punishment was to have the prophets die and the Israelites exiled unto Babylon for 70 years. What really encouraged me today was that even in the midst of punishment or circumstances that we happen to be in that bring calamity, the Lord is still God and it is still HIS plans and He WILL keep His promises fulfilled.
Jeremiah 29:10-14
“This is what the Lord says: ‘When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”
God is so kind and merciful to us; to watch out for us and fulfill HIS promise to those of us that “seek Him with all our hearts”. I am trusting that through out these difficult days, with lying “prophets” all around, wickedness that seems to always prevail, and disasters happening from the ends of the earth- God is still the God of Jeremiah’s days. He is still the God in control and with a plan and a purpose. Today, I can rest in that and have the peace that passes all understanding. Where would we be without our faith? I shudder to think of that prospect. On the contrary, I know without a doubt that He is the one who has me in this world today, where one day He will bring me out of this Babylon and give me a future. He is listening to my prayers today, while I call upon Him.
We got notified early this morning that Wu Jie Quan will be ours, as long as China approves our dossier paperwork. We have 6 months to get that to them.
I am praying, and working quickly, as much as I have control, to get that to them in 4 months.
Woo..Hoo.. We are excited.
Mama Lamb