Praying Through Pre-Adoption Day 28

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,

who have been called according to his purpose.

~Romans 8:28

This verse reminds me of the song "Our God" by Christ Tomlin:

And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us?
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?

Don't you just love those lyrics?

And since you know by now that it is typical of me to get all 'lyric-y', I am just loving the song "Your Great Name" by Natalie Grant:

Lost are saved; find their way; at the sound of Your Great Name
All condemned; feel no shame; at the sound of Your Great Name
Every fear; has no place; at the sound of Your Great Name
The enemy; he has to leave; at the sound of Your Great Name
All the weak; find their strength; at the sound of Your Great Name
Hungry souls; receive grace; at the sound of Your Great Name
The fatherless; they find their rest; at the sound of Your Great Name
Sick are healed, and the dead are raised. At the sound of Your Great Name

We want to pray today that we would not get discouraged during our adoption. We will (and have) encounter people 'against us'.

*People who don't understand why we are adopting from Ethiopia rather than locally in the U.S.

~God told us that is where two of our children are! 5 million orphans (in Ethiopia alone) minus 2!

*People who think it is a bad idea to adopt two children at once.

~We want to provide a home for siblings. We pray they can find comfort in having each other, a familiar bond, bound by blood. And again, God is calling us to do this!

*People obsessed over how much adoption costs and are sure there is a cheaper way--and a way that takes far less time.

~Nope, sorry, there is not. At least, not legally! Because there will be so many people involved in our adoption--social workers, our agency, U.S. government, Ethiopia government, the 'special mothers' at Hannah's Hope in Ethiopia, etc., it must be so. Everyone is working together to ensure that we will provide a healthy, loving home for our children. That we will be able to provide for them. That the children are being cared for in Ethiopia while they wait for a family.

While I try not to let others' opinions get me down, they do rattle me sometimes. But, I do understand that most people are uneducated on adoption, especially on international adoption. So, we are working on being able to provide that information when asked. We know the questions will only grow when we have our children home. Praying God gives us words to speak.

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for calling us to adopt sibling from Ethiopia! When people ask questions about our adoption, Lord, please give us your words to speak to them. When we feel the enemy's presence, Lord, let us speak Your Great Name and know that the enemy will flee. Encourage us. We know that all things work together for your good! Help us to give honor to Your Name and to give all glory to You!