Romans 10

Romans 10:3 - "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God."

As I read this verse I knew Paul was referring to the Jews but quietly I could hear God's voice saying, "but I am referring to you, Jennie, you are ignorant of my righteousness and have tried to obtain your own counterfeit righteousness. You have substituted works and man's understanding of righteousness for My True Righteousness. You still don't get it, you still try rather then submit." I asked myself and God, "Why do I still not understand, why am I still ignorant?" His answer came quickly - "for the same reason you do not understand anyone, because you do not spend enough time with them, true time with them." My ignorance does not come b/c I need another translation of the Bible, b/c I have not gone to enough Bible studies or b/c I need to read a few more books about God but my ignorance still persists b/c I am still lacking in time with Him. I don't need to talk about Him, I need to talk to Him. I don't need to read another book about Him, I need to read the Book He wrote for me. It is really quite simple, I am ignorant of Him b/c I do not know Him as well as I should and I do not know Him as I should b/c I do not spend enough time with Him. And in my pride and ignorance I try to substitute what I can attain for Him, a sad and sorry substitute. God, forgive me of my ignorance and fill me with Your spirit of wisdom and revelation, open the eyes of my understanding. Give me the strength to be still with You all the days of my life, teach me to abide in You.

Hosea 4:6 - "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge..."

Good News

I am very happy to write that we got word that our paperwork was submitted to the courts on September 23rd and we should be receiving our 1st court date sometime in mid to late October. Our agency expects us to travel sometime in mid November to early December for our first trip overseas. Of course, that is just their best estimate, not a guarantee. Due to many changes in the process and requirements for Ethiopian adoptions we may be delayed somewhat on our 2ND trip, they are seeing wait times of 2 to 4 months before families are able to go back and bring their children home. So, please pray with us that we will be able to fly through the process and bring our girls home quickly. When Trae heard that there was more of a delay then we expected he said with tears in his eyes, "they won't be home for Christmas, will they?" I reminded him that God is good and far bigger then anything we can perceive so we will continue to pray and believe in His perfect timing. I know I am extremely biased but I would not mind having Trae for a brother.

God has been so good to us lately (not that He is not at other times!) and He is teaching us many things while we wait for our children and He constantly presses us to seek Him and to see beyond our worldly and temporal cares. I am continually amazed by how distracted I can get with this life of mine that is nothing more then a blink of an eye. We have been challenged recently by a friend that we greatly respect to take on a new perspective of missions and in reality a new perspective of our future and all that we feel entitled too. It has already been humbling and eye-opening. I hope to write more about our experiences in regards to missions as God takes us down this path.

My prayer for us all is that we would begin to pray for His vision, not our vision. His vision will look different as it is played out in our individual lives but it will always have His love for the lost and He will always insist that we lay down all that we are to pick up and carry our cross. Jesus lived a life of sacrifice and service even though He was sinless and the most powerful being in all of eternity. Why don't we?

Mark 10:45 - "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."