Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Path of Hope

Everyone has a different path in life... one that God has created specifically for each and every person!  Each one an adventure.  There are roads He takes us on that are lovely and clear and refreshing, but there are also those paths that are, well... scary!  Believe it or not, both paths are beautiful as long as the Lord is the One leading the way.
 
Baby's life looks very different from a lot of our lives and very similar to a lot of other people's as well.  This is the life God gave her!  Many would look at it in pity.  We choose to look at it as something SO very beautiful.  A beautiful life is one that points and brings glory to Christ.
Even at 10 or 11 months old, this little lady has pointed many people (probably more than we even know) to her Creator!  She can't even speak yet and she's already a missionary!  We have heard many stories already of people who have turned their lives to the Savior or who are seeking the Lord now that they've heard Baby's story. 

 
This is a quote from the book, "War of Words" by Paul Tripp (great book by the way!)
"Hope = a confident expectation of a guaranteed result.
The Lord will never put you in a situation without giving you everything you need to do what He has called you to!"
Thankfully our hope is in the Lord and not in man!  Yes, including the doctors, nurses and modern medicine, even though I do believe God uses people like this to accomplish His will.
 
 
Some might say it's "unfair" for something like this to happen to a baby.  And I confess I have been one of those.  I have wished to take away her struggle and pain and take it on myself.  I've asked God why it didn't happen to me instead of this little one.  I kept thinking there should have been something I could have done to prevent this from happening in the first place.  These are human failings.  What right have I to question our Omnipotent God?  Because it was Baby who God chose to use in this way, lives all over the world have been changed!  The same God who created the heavens and the earth just by SPEAKING it into existence is the same God who created Baby... fearfully and wonderfully!  He knew her in her mother's womb!  He spoke and she came to be!  Yes, even in her birth situation.  Some may say she was an "accident".  The typical thinking of foster children's parents is that people who can't take care of kids shouldn't have kids.  I'm not writing about that, what I am writing about is the one fact that NO child is here because of "accident"!  God created every single human being.  Red, brown, yellow, black and white... aborted (murdered) ones and ones that get to live because of the decisions of their mother.  It doesn't matter if we're here because of sinful acts or God glorifying ones.  God. created. US!!!  You never know how God is going to use your life!  If we yield our lives to Him and live in His will, He can work mightily through us!  We should choose to see each trial as an opportunity that God is giving us to draw others to Himself.  Nothing happens that is outside of God's control.
 
I appreciated a nurse the other night who said, "You are so blessed to have her!".  Isn't that the TRUTH!  Many have said it the other way around... that SHE is blessed to have US.  We are honored to have been to have been chosen to care for and love Baby!  Even if that meant only having her for a short time.  We are extremely thankful God saw fit to let us enjoy her and learn from her for a while longer!  We are blessed by this blessing!  God has great plans for Baby and I am excited to see what adventures He has for her as He leads her on this path!  I pray she will continue to tell of God's amazing grace with any other hardship or joy that the Lord leads her through!
 
 
Psalm 33
Shout for joy in the LORD,
O you righteous!
Praise befits the upright.
Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre;
make melody to Him with the harp of ten strings!
Sing to Him a new song;
play skillfully on the strings with loud shouts.
For the word of the LORD is upright,
and
ALL HIS WORK IS DONE IN FAITHFULNESS.
He loves righteousness and justice;
THE EARTH IS FULL OF THE STEADFAST LOVE OF THE LORD!
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
and by the breath of His mouth all their host.
He gathers up the waters of the sea as a heap;
He puts the deep in storehouses.
Let all the earth fear the LORD;
let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him!
FOR HE SPOKE AND IT CAME TO BE;
HE COMMANDED AND IT STOOD FIRM.
The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
the plans of His heart to all generations.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people whom He has chosen as His heritage!
The LORD looks down from heaven;
HE SEES ALL THE CHILDREN OF MAN;
from where He sits He sees all the inhabitants of the earth,
HE WHO FASHIONS THE HEARTS OF THEM ALL AND OBSERVES ALL THEIR DEEDS.
The king is not saved by his great army;
a warrior is nt delivered by his great strength.
The war horse is a false hope for salvation,
and by it's great might it cannot rescue.
BEHOLD, THE EYE OF THE LORD IS ON THOSE WHO FEAR HIM,
ON THOSE WHO HOPE IN HIS STEADFAST LOVE,
THAT HE MAY DELIVER THEIR SOUL FROM DEATH AND KEEP THEM ALIVE IN FAMINE.
 
OUR SOUL WAITS FOR THE LORD;
HE IS OUR HELP AND OUR SHIELD,
OUR HEART IS GLAD IN HIM,
BECAUSE WE TRUST IN HIS HOLY NAME.
 
LET YOUR STEADFAST LOVE, O LORD, BE UPON US EVEN AS WE HOPE IN YOU!

2 comments:

  1. Amen! You are speaking and living out the truth of these words every single day. Thank you for your encouraging posts and for pointing to the Savior so faithfully through all of this. We will continue to pray for healing, and for Abbie's sweet ministry to continue all the days of her life, for the glory of God!

    Love you--

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  2. Our hearts are so with you and your family. Thank you for sharing your Light with so many!! But especially baby Abbie right now. <3 We are blessed to watch you love her and love others.

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