Off to run some errands

We are off to run some errands for the adoption this morning. I awoke with a sense of motivation and encouragement to redo a couple things we were notified of last week that have to be redone (2 items) and also officially start applying for our grants, so that is what we are going to do. My boys are so cute!! When I hear a door open this morning and go upstairs to find my oldest son, Job, peeping at me with those big eyes, my heart flood with affection. He then opens up his arms really big and gives me a tender bear hug (I know, I know it sounds like a dramatic love film!). I am so thankful God has chosen motherhood for me. Though he is often purifying my heart from selfishness and sin, which is very hard at times, that purifying work is coupled with intense joy and sweetness. I am humbled to have been given such a grace, not just for my children but that God has given me an obvious way to bring him glory and honor: by clinging to the cross for grace to complete this task each moment. I realize more and more as a mom just how much I need a Savior! If left to myself how could I ever raise my children to fear and delight in Christ? How could I be a godly example? How could I value them for the treasure they really are, instead of viewing children as the world views them ("more money", "inconvenient", "too difficult", etc. etc.). Listen to how the word of God defines our little ones (biological & adopted...just children) "Children are a heritage from the Lord..." "Like arrows in the hand of a warrior..." "Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!" (all taken from Psalm 127). We listened a while back to a wonderful sermon from our pastor on this very topic. If you would like to listen to it, here's the link: http://www.fbcdurham.org/sermonArchive.php?search=children&andOr=1. Scroll to the bottom for the sermon on Psalm 127. I will leave you with a challenging verse found in the same chapter, "Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain." (v.1). It is the Lord who builds our houses and chooses for us our little ones, with all their personality quarks and sin struggles. He alone is the one from who we can gain all the grace, wisdom and strength we need to accomplish this great task or being parents. It amazing to think of adoption in this light, that God will help me in every tough thing and that the word of God makes no distinction to the gift and blessing of adopted or biological children. This can really encourage me when others ask "Why are you adopting if you can have children?" Haven't we been adopted into God's family through Christ work? Don't we desire to portrait this forth to a lost world? And secondary, God's word says a CHILD is valuable and a gift to us, it doesn't have to come from your body to have value in your family before God. I praise God for the gift every one of my children will be to my own soul and I pray, for God's glory, among the world.