Show Hope (July 10, 2010)

I sit here with a letter in front of me from Show Hope. Show Hope is the organization started by Stephen Curtis Chapman and his wife to assist others in adopting children. We applied for a grant and the letter we received yesterday from them says they have granted us $5000.00! This is just one more major miracle in this whole process. I believe this is the max they give.

Abba’s mighty hand has been all over this adoption process. It all began with a prayer and a verse – Romans 4:18a & 21, “Against all hope Abraham in hope believed…being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised.” While in China, after spending a 2nd visit with Mei, I read this verse. I prayed, “Lord, I do not have a promise from you that this boy is to be part of our family. I would love a direct promise that I might believe by faith and watch it happen. However, what I do have is a heart that longs to make this child a part of our family and that heart reflects your heart. I pray and ask you to move mountains and let us adopt this child.”

That was nearly a year ago. We began the process in hope and against great odds. Then one mountain after another began to crumble. A few days ago we received our referral from China. Now I sit here with a letter from “Show Hope!”

Against all hope Abraham in hope believed! Because we were willing to show hope in God we have been extremely blessed to see many miracles through this process. We could write a book of Mei’s Story for Abba’s Glory.

I believe a lot of why we have seen such amazing things take place is because we have allowed the Lord to align our hearts with His heart in regards to caring for orphans (James 1:27). Imagine what amazing things we could see on a regular basis if only our hearts were aligned with His in other ways (i.e., hatred of sin, reaching the lost, helping the helpless, for the glory of God to all nations, etc…).

Lord, align our hearts with yours. Only you can do this. I pray you would use our family to display your glory to all nations. I know this means it has to begin with me so let it begin. Please break me, remake me, and use me for your glory. This is urgent because life on earth is so short. I don’t want to waste my life. I want to live my life fully for you. I want to BLead for you! God help me! In Jesus name I pray. Amen.