Believe and Receive.....

"....whoever believes in him shall not perish....."

"Jesus' invitation seems to simple. We gravitate to to other verbs. Work has a better ring to it. "Whoever works for him will be saved." Satisfy fits nicely. "Whoever satisfies him will be saved." But believe? Shouldn't I do more?

We expect a more proactive assignment, to have to conjure up a remedy for our sin. Some mercy seekers have donned hair shirts, climbed cathedral steps on their knees, or traversed hot rocks on bare feet.

Others of us have written our own Bible verse: "God helps those who help themselves". We'll fix ourselves, thank you. we'll make up for our mistakes with contributions, our guilt with busyness. We'll overcome failures iwth hard work. We'll find salvation the old-fashioned way; we'll earn it.

Christ, in contrast says to us: "Your part is to trust. Trust me to do what you cant".

You take similar steps of trust daily. You believe the chair will support you, so you set your weight on it. You believe water will hydrate you, so you swallow it. You have faith the doorknob will work, so you turn it. You regularly trust power you cannot see to do a work you cannot accomplish. Jesus invites you to do the same with him.

Just Him. Not any other leader. Not other wounded and sickened souls. Not even you. You cant fix you. Look to Jesus....and believe."

By Max Lucado in 3:16

On this day we celebrate Easter, a day of Eternal Victory for all those who BELIEVE! Through His life, death and resurrection, we have God's Kingdom not only for eternity, but here on earth...if we just believe and receive.

Our journey of adoption has taught us so very much, but one of the greatest and the most rewarding is to believe God. Believe Him to be bigger, greater and purposeful. We have also learned to joy and peace in trusting God. Tomorrow marks business day 37 in waiting for our mixco birth certificate, 8 weeks to the date of being submitted. A reminder that God is in control, and although the wait makes no sense to us, He has a greater purpose, and by choice, we will and are believing! Did God cause corruption in Mixco Civil Registry? absolutely NOT! Will He use it for His greater purpose and glory, you better believe it. Are we ready to be part of that glory? AMEN! I have stood in the moment of His glory before, and it is breath taking. Today brings a new hope and the same promise that He is in this adoption.

We choose to "wait upon the Lord', not because we want to, believe me, our flesh wants to run the other way, do whatever it takes to get that BC, but our need for the Lord and His presence in our life is greater, so we choose to trust Him and His promises, for they have never "left us or forsaken us". God is greater, and when all is said and done, I believe we will know the purpose for this wait. As for the plan?......that's the exciting part of the adventure....we have no idea what wonderful things God still has in mind for our family, but I know that I know that the plans He has for us are plans to "prosper us and not harm us".

I will love you Lord, in all things, I choose you.