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| "HIS higher ways and HIS thoughts" |
Praising God From Whom All Blessings Flow,
Amiee :)
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9
I usaually turn to this scripture for comfort when I am sad or when my flesh is weary because I have not gotten "my way". This morning as I am reading this scripture I'm reminded that I cannot comprehend the love the LORD has for me. Not only are HIS ideas that make my heart sometimes ache "higher than my ways" so is the joy that HE wants me to recieve. My children are proof of this. Today at 1:00, Coleman will no longer be a middle schooler but a "high schooler". Yes, I will be teary eyed when I pick him up. He was the most beautiful baby... He had the biggest blue eyes and yes, he was a "momma's boy". The LORD has given me Coleman to reflect the gentle spirit that the LORD has for me. Coleman is guided by a loving tone and he is not afraid to love others who are different from him. I cannot wait to see how the LORD will use Coleman for HIS glory. Coleman, I'm so thankful God shared you with me. Laurel will be a junior! Oh my goodness! I remember dropping her off at kindergarten with her little pink wire rim glasses and her beautiful blonde hair. God has given me Laurel to reflect HIS steadfastness in my life. She is loyal and she is constant. She is dependable and kind. Laurel doesn't waiver in her faith. The LORD is using her in a mighty way in my life. I love you Lala! Joanie, Joanie, Joanie... at 1:00 today, she will be a first grader! The child that had no language has run Mrs. B's kindergarten class this year. (Not really but she thinks she has.) God gave me Joan to remind me of HIS forgiveness of my sin. Even though she is still learning this concept (so am I by the way) I see glimpses of sin in my life of holding onto hate. Anything that is not love is hate. There is no grey area. As I walk beside Joanie through her trials, the Lord is continuing to show me my sin and through Joan, HE is teaching me to rely on HIM to meet all of my needs. She reminds me that my children are not my children...they are HIS and so am I. Derrick is my brown baby that NEVER stops talking. He says to me, "Momma, let me love your cheeks" then he pushes his little soft brown face to mine and holds me close. The LORD has given me Derrick to remind me that when I can't pray for myself, the Holy Spirit knows what I need and HE is interceding on my behalf. God gave me Derrick because Derrick is my unexpected mercy. When we said we would adopt Joan we didn't know that Joan had a little brother. God knew we needed Derrick and thankfully, we knew he was ours. Derrick brings laughter into our lives. He is the best dancer in the family! Today at 3:00, the Lord is bringing two more children into our lives. They are coming here so that their bodies can heal but I have no doubt, the LORD is bringing them to continue to heal my sinful heart. Please pray for Phionna and Shamira today. The LORD has prepared them for this journey. I can't begin to imagine what they are thinking today. PLEASE lift them up as they come to the US for physical healing. Uganda is a looooonnnng way from here. I could make a long list of things that will be different for them. Our lives are about to change again and I'm thankful. God keeps moving me and stretching me. I think that's where the wrinkles are coming from:) I count everyone of them as a blessing.
Praising God From Whom All Blessings Flow,
Amiee :)
Praising God From Whom All Blessings Flow,
Amiee :)
Sunday, May 20, 2012
"Are we there yet?"
"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19
We'll they are coming. I wonder if they have any idea where they are coming...how far apart we really are from Uganda. Instead of asking, "Are we there yet?" on a trip Derrick asks "is it as far away as SOZO?". That trip makes every other trip seem easy. God does meet all of my needs...everyday. It's usually with others that HE meets my needs. Someone will send me a note that lifts my spirits and gets my focus off myself and reminds me of the glory that surrounds me. Someone stops by and prays for my children. Unexpected...that's what makes me smile. Unexpected...but shouldn't I expect it? Shouldn't I expect that "God will meet all of my needs according to HIS glorious riches in Chirst Jesus"? HE says HE will and I see it played over and over throughout my life. I have seen the glory of the Lord. I have no doubt where my blessings come from. I am called to "give it all away". As Coleman and I were talking the other day, I remembered that I am instructed to give away all that I have and all that I am. He didn't bless me abundantly with "things" for my pleasure. He gave it to me and commanded me to give "it" away. If I keep it ("it" is also "myself") I'm not being obedient. So, when Todd came home in January from Uganda and said, "Amiee, we have to help them. They are suffering and we have to help them." I had no idea what that was going to look like. I really didn't. The process started with praying...God will have to do this because I cannot. I must confess that deep in my sinful heart I didn't want to do it. Joan and Derrick have transistioned beautifully but ya'll, it's hard sometimes. It takes a lot of enerygy physically but also mentally. Is it worth it? Absolutely, but these girls have significant medical needs. Their wounds are deep. I can't wait to tell their stories to you. I've decided to wait until they are able to tell them to me and ask them if I can share with you. It's their news to tell. I'm hoping that they learn enough English that they can share their stories with you when you come by my house and meet them or meet us out for dinner:) God will reveal their testimonies and I can't wait! As the process of medical visa's began, HE put one person, then another person directly in my path and everytime I asked for help, the answer was "yes". Some of the people that have helped these girls get here I have never met. In fact, most of the doctors and nurses I have not met. They have seen photos of the children and read a few brief medical documents from Kampala. They don't know who I am or who the girls are but they know who HE is and they said "yes...of course I will help." Their enthusiasm was a "need" that God knew I had. I didn't have the energy to plead with people to help suffering children. God has brought together an amazing team of servants to help these girls. Get ready! We are about to witness healing through the body of Christ! Though the grace of God, I have witnessed spiritual healing in my life. The body of Christ is alive and well. I can't wait to meet the people that have agreed to be the hands and feet of Christ to these girls. By their obedience, they have healed my spirit...They have shown me once again that "I can't do it" but "HE can" and "HE will".
Please lift up the girls this week, especially the faithful servant that is bringing them home. She's a college student that may be feeling a little overwhelmed by the responsibility of traveling with two extra companions but, our God is already working through that. We actually have a dear friend that will be on the same flight from Amsterdam to Atlanta with her so I'm hoping he can help them get through immigration. (I'm not sure we've told him yet that they will be on the same flight:) That was the most difficult part of our trip...getting back into the United States. Pray that they don't get motion sickness on the plane. I'm not sure if they have ever even ridden in a car. If they have, it's only been once or twice, maybe when they went to the doctor back in January with Todd and Suzanne. What perfect timing God has...they will be here the first day of summer. I will post more specific medical prayer requests when the time comes for testing and surgeries. The only thing I would ask for now is pray that they test negative for HIV. Whether they have it or not they will be treated but our prayer is that we can get them as healthy as possible before surgeries begin. HIV is treatable. I covet all of your prayers. That's what we need now. Pray for hearts to be prepared as we begin what God puts in front of us today.
Praising God From Whom All Blessings Flow,
Amiee :)
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| "Phionna and Shamira" |
Please lift up the girls this week, especially the faithful servant that is bringing them home. She's a college student that may be feeling a little overwhelmed by the responsibility of traveling with two extra companions but, our God is already working through that. We actually have a dear friend that will be on the same flight from Amsterdam to Atlanta with her so I'm hoping he can help them get through immigration. (I'm not sure we've told him yet that they will be on the same flight:) That was the most difficult part of our trip...getting back into the United States. Pray that they don't get motion sickness on the plane. I'm not sure if they have ever even ridden in a car. If they have, it's only been once or twice, maybe when they went to the doctor back in January with Todd and Suzanne. What perfect timing God has...they will be here the first day of summer. I will post more specific medical prayer requests when the time comes for testing and surgeries. The only thing I would ask for now is pray that they test negative for HIV. Whether they have it or not they will be treated but our prayer is that we can get them as healthy as possible before surgeries begin. HIV is treatable. I covet all of your prayers. That's what we need now. Pray for hearts to be prepared as we begin what God puts in front of us today.
Praising God From Whom All Blessings Flow,
Amiee :)
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
"...It's complicated"
"And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our Go whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace" Luke 1: 67-79
What happens when two countries 8500 miles apart try to come together for the sake of children that are abandoned and need medical care? It's complicated. What happens when we are one document away from having medical visa's in hand? It's complicated. Yesterday, was complicated. Today has already been more complicated than yesterday. So many things went right but we didn't get the visa's. We did everything we could but God said, "Not yet". To me in my small, simple mind, it's complicated. But as God has shown me time and time and time again, HIS ways are higher. He's got this but tonight at 2:00 a.m. our time and 10:00 a.m. Uganda time it's complicated and I am tired. I've lost track of the days and nights between Uganda and the US. We are waiting on one document, one man, one travel companion and 2 visa's so the girls can come to the US. This really isn't that much but in Uganda, this one document could arrive within the next 5 minutes or the next 5 weeks. You just never know. Catherine and Jonathan did everything they could do to get these visa's. We wouldn't be this close without them. They were not able to change their flights. Todd spent the entire afternoon trying to figure out a way that we could change their flights so they could all come home together but we just weren't able to work that out. Our hope was that the girls would be on the plane home with them Thursday night. Without the "one document" we could not be given the visa's. The good news is, the girls will be granted visa's. This document was not something listed specifically on the requirements. It was not something that was asked for in the interview. It was something that was asked for at the last minute. We will get the document...no worries about that. I'm thinking that God wants this process to touch a few more lives and I know HE will use this delay to refine my own sinful heart. He has already brought new people into my path within the last 24 hours that I may have never known and I will use this delay for HIS glory. The scripture above gave me so much hope as I am sitting her in my kitchen in the middle of the night asking God "why does this too have to be so complicated?" I felt bitterness and resentment build in my heart thinking all day, "Now these children are finally going to get help and someone who has been a 5 minute boda ride from them wants to know whose been caring for them in Uganda??? Where have these people been during their suffering? Now they want to protect them from doctors and people who will love them and care about them...Lord, I don't understand." That was me, making this not about HIM. Those thoughts were me thinking my way was better than HIS. That is a very good example of what me not trusting in Him and me standing up instead of kneeling down looks like....ugly! Then God revealed the passage above to me. "Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit..." Lord, fill me with the Holy Spirit. The God of Israel"for he has visited and redeemed his people and raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David...". He's talking about me. This is good news. It's not complicated. He claimed "we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us". It's complicated because satan hates what is happening with SOZO and Rays of HOPE. So, instead of feeling tired and weary tonight, I am going to claim that I have been saved. Then, my favorite part, "to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days." I will continue to serve HIM without fear and righteousness before HIM all my days. I will confess my sinful heart. Jesus has already gone before me and prepared HIS way, to give knowledge of salvation to HIS people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." God is shining HIS light though this. These are HIS children and I know "HE"S got this! It's not complicated to HIM.
Todd and I were talking today about the girls...trying to imagine if they can even begin grasp the surgical pain they are about to endure but also the different life experiences they are about to have. S is always smiling. Her smile is sooooo BIG. She always looks happy. When you see her scars, they are horrific. There's no way to sugar coat that. I asked Todd today, "how can she always find a reason to smile? She is in constant pain?" His answer, "she's alive". With that statement, God humbled me again and I went back to the foot of the cross. Please continue to pray for God's will to be done with these children. I wish I could ask for more specific prayer requests tonight but that's all I think I need to ask for. It's really not as complicated as I was making it.
Praising God From Whom All Blessings Flow,
Amiee :)
What happens when two countries 8500 miles apart try to come together for the sake of children that are abandoned and need medical care? It's complicated. What happens when we are one document away from having medical visa's in hand? It's complicated. Yesterday, was complicated. Today has already been more complicated than yesterday. So many things went right but we didn't get the visa's. We did everything we could but God said, "Not yet". To me in my small, simple mind, it's complicated. But as God has shown me time and time and time again, HIS ways are higher. He's got this but tonight at 2:00 a.m. our time and 10:00 a.m. Uganda time it's complicated and I am tired. I've lost track of the days and nights between Uganda and the US. We are waiting on one document, one man, one travel companion and 2 visa's so the girls can come to the US. This really isn't that much but in Uganda, this one document could arrive within the next 5 minutes or the next 5 weeks. You just never know. Catherine and Jonathan did everything they could do to get these visa's. We wouldn't be this close without them. They were not able to change their flights. Todd spent the entire afternoon trying to figure out a way that we could change their flights so they could all come home together but we just weren't able to work that out. Our hope was that the girls would be on the plane home with them Thursday night. Without the "one document" we could not be given the visa's. The good news is, the girls will be granted visa's. This document was not something listed specifically on the requirements. It was not something that was asked for in the interview. It was something that was asked for at the last minute. We will get the document...no worries about that. I'm thinking that God wants this process to touch a few more lives and I know HE will use this delay to refine my own sinful heart. He has already brought new people into my path within the last 24 hours that I may have never known and I will use this delay for HIS glory. The scripture above gave me so much hope as I am sitting her in my kitchen in the middle of the night asking God "why does this too have to be so complicated?" I felt bitterness and resentment build in my heart thinking all day, "Now these children are finally going to get help and someone who has been a 5 minute boda ride from them wants to know whose been caring for them in Uganda??? Where have these people been during their suffering? Now they want to protect them from doctors and people who will love them and care about them...Lord, I don't understand." That was me, making this not about HIM. Those thoughts were me thinking my way was better than HIS. That is a very good example of what me not trusting in Him and me standing up instead of kneeling down looks like....ugly! Then God revealed the passage above to me. "Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit..." Lord, fill me with the Holy Spirit. The God of Israel"for he has visited and redeemed his people and raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David...". He's talking about me. This is good news. It's not complicated. He claimed "we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us". It's complicated because satan hates what is happening with SOZO and Rays of HOPE. So, instead of feeling tired and weary tonight, I am going to claim that I have been saved. Then, my favorite part, "to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days." I will continue to serve HIM without fear and righteousness before HIM all my days. I will confess my sinful heart. Jesus has already gone before me and prepared HIS way, to give knowledge of salvation to HIS people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." God is shining HIS light though this. These are HIS children and I know "HE"S got this! It's not complicated to HIM.
Todd and I were talking today about the girls...trying to imagine if they can even begin grasp the surgical pain they are about to endure but also the different life experiences they are about to have. S is always smiling. Her smile is sooooo BIG. She always looks happy. When you see her scars, they are horrific. There's no way to sugar coat that. I asked Todd today, "how can she always find a reason to smile? She is in constant pain?" His answer, "she's alive". With that statement, God humbled me again and I went back to the foot of the cross. Please continue to pray for God's will to be done with these children. I wish I could ask for more specific prayer requests tonight but that's all I think I need to ask for. It's really not as complicated as I was making it.
Praising God From Whom All Blessings Flow,
Amiee :)
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
"HIS Rays of Hope"
"having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the work of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come." Ephesians 1:18-21
As I sit here not able to sleep, an unassuming person sitting in the American Embassy in Uganda is being prayed for by me. I'm praying that she/he senses the presence of a MIGHTY GOD that she/he may or may not know. I pray she/he knows HIM. She has the choice today to send two precious fatherless children to America for much needed medical treatment. I pray that her decision no matter what it is draws her closer to the Lord. I pray that her heart has been touched by these children like my heart has been touched. I pray that something comes over her that she recognizes is not herself but God. I pray for the children that wait in anticipation of how different their tomorrow can look. LORD, please let their tomorrow look different than their today. Lord, you know what they need. You are the Father of the Fatherless. Lord, this will be another mountain but I've seen you move mountains. I will not be surprised. I will continue to do my best to be obedient and look for you in every situation and circumstance.
When we were in Uganda less than a year ago, I asked Joel, "who needs to come to America next?" He named two girls that were older and have very extensive medical needs. It is no coincidence that the school is called "Rays of Hope". These girls are two more Rays of Hope. They both have very different stories. One has scars on the outside and they both have deep scars on the inside. (Don't we all? Are they really that different from me?) Their eyes and their smiles will melt your heart. When Todd and Suzanne went to Uganda in January, they began the process of helping these Rays of Hope heal. They visited specialists in Kampala and we began the process of obtaining medical visa's for these children. I will wait until they get here to introduce you to them. They have amazing stories of mercy and grace and I am humbled to be a part of their journey. Please join me in praying for them to receive their visa's any moment. Our hope is that they can leave Uganda in the morning at 9:30a.m. and arrive in Birmingham on Thursday. Please pray for wisdom for the SOZO team as we walk beside these girls on their road to recovery. I know what happens when you walk beside someone else expecting them to be healed... God heals the person that thinks they are helping the other person:). I know that these girls will heal places deep inside of my heart and soul that I am not even aware that need healing. Lord, I pray for every person reading this that our eyes and "hearts will be enlightened and that we know what the hope to which YOU have called us, what the riches of YOUR glorious inheritance in the saints and how immeasurable greatness of Your power toward us who believe, according to the work of Your great might that worked in Christ when You were raised from the dead and seated HIM at Your right hand in heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come."
I will update as soon as we hear something. Thank you for interceding for these precious girls. They are HIS Rays of HOPE!
To God Be the Glory, forever and ever,
Amiee :)
As I sit here not able to sleep, an unassuming person sitting in the American Embassy in Uganda is being prayed for by me. I'm praying that she/he senses the presence of a MIGHTY GOD that she/he may or may not know. I pray she/he knows HIM. She has the choice today to send two precious fatherless children to America for much needed medical treatment. I pray that her decision no matter what it is draws her closer to the Lord. I pray that her heart has been touched by these children like my heart has been touched. I pray that something comes over her that she recognizes is not herself but God. I pray for the children that wait in anticipation of how different their tomorrow can look. LORD, please let their tomorrow look different than their today. Lord, you know what they need. You are the Father of the Fatherless. Lord, this will be another mountain but I've seen you move mountains. I will not be surprised. I will continue to do my best to be obedient and look for you in every situation and circumstance.
When we were in Uganda less than a year ago, I asked Joel, "who needs to come to America next?" He named two girls that were older and have very extensive medical needs. It is no coincidence that the school is called "Rays of Hope". These girls are two more Rays of Hope. They both have very different stories. One has scars on the outside and they both have deep scars on the inside. (Don't we all? Are they really that different from me?) Their eyes and their smiles will melt your heart. When Todd and Suzanne went to Uganda in January, they began the process of helping these Rays of Hope heal. They visited specialists in Kampala and we began the process of obtaining medical visa's for these children. I will wait until they get here to introduce you to them. They have amazing stories of mercy and grace and I am humbled to be a part of their journey. Please join me in praying for them to receive their visa's any moment. Our hope is that they can leave Uganda in the morning at 9:30a.m. and arrive in Birmingham on Thursday. Please pray for wisdom for the SOZO team as we walk beside these girls on their road to recovery. I know what happens when you walk beside someone else expecting them to be healed... God heals the person that thinks they are helping the other person:). I know that these girls will heal places deep inside of my heart and soul that I am not even aware that need healing. Lord, I pray for every person reading this that our eyes and "hearts will be enlightened and that we know what the hope to which YOU have called us, what the riches of YOUR glorious inheritance in the saints and how immeasurable greatness of Your power toward us who believe, according to the work of Your great might that worked in Christ when You were raised from the dead and seated HIM at Your right hand in heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come."
I will update as soon as we hear something. Thank you for interceding for these precious girls. They are HIS Rays of HOPE!
To God Be the Glory, forever and ever,
Amiee :)
Friday, April 27, 2012
"Her momma must be white..."
"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me." Philippians 3:12
I don't want to write this entry. That's when I know I have to. I don't know if it's because I'm prideful (I am), stubborn (I am) or fighting not let both of my feet fall into the trap of "the world"(I do). There is no doubt that one year ago, I wasn't equipped to communicate with Joan. I didn't know sign language but God has/is equipping me. My prayer had been that God would heal Joan but instead, he healed me...he healed me from pride and gave me a good dose of humility through Joan's deafness. He showed me again that I don't need to be in the business of "fixing" others but loving them where they are. HE has met me where I am and I am so thankful. HE never stops pursuing me. After we resolved the "hearing issue", I believe God has given me a momentary reprisal. He has let me catch my breath and boy did I need to catch it. I can feel HIM preparing me for something else, maybe another race. What else could there be after the past year "Reeves Party of Six" has had? But, I know that God is not going to continue to let me think for long that I have it "all figured out". He is going to continue to seek me, challenge me and forgive me when I think that "I'm doing it". He's going to show me on the days I say to myself "I can't do this" that I'm not supposed to. HE is. He is going to continue to show me that I need HIM and that is all I need. The world is going to continue to tell me that it's all about me but I know that none of this is about me...It has been during this "quiet time" in our family that I finally got motivated to do something with Joan's hair. I have been studying a site called "Chocolate Hair/ Vanilla Care". It is a website where white women post questions about their black children's hair. Black women answer all of the questions and do their best to "equip" us "vanilla mom's" to care for our "chocolate children's" hair. Ya'll, it's not easy to deal with Joan's hair. She has the driest, tightest curls I have ever seen. If you stretch it out, it's really much longer than it looks. If I tease it up, within an hour its drawing back to her head. You can't tell it's even been combed. I have had more free advice and unsolicited comments from many, many black women. Many have given me their personal phone numbers and all but pleaded for me to let them help. Honestly, I have struggled with this. The issues we have had with communication and language have trumped any worry or concern I have had about her hair. It hasn't been a priority for me. It's sill not. Besides not having time to get my own hair "done", I love her hair the way it "naturally is". I love it teased up as high as it will go with a headband that makes it look even higher. I love how she is different. I loved her when she was bald headed with a few ring worms. I loved her when she only had one dress that was a size 18 months that she could wear when she was 7 years old because she was so, so small. Many of the children don't have hair in Uganda. They keep it shaved. Her "unkept" hair is an endearing reminder to me of Uganda and how Jesus washed my feet while I was there. By the grace of God, Joan and Derrick don't look like they are from the streets of Kabalagala any more. They have each gained 9 pounds in 10 months. They are both taller. Derrick is almost as tall as Joan. I don't want them to ever forget who God made them to be and that they were born in Uganda. I don't want them to ever think that I came in and saved them. God has been their Father since He brought them into this world and HE has protected them and blessed them abundantly especially when they were on the streets of Kabalagala. Do I put them in nice clothes? Yes. Do I let them eat ice cream when every they want because vanilla ice cream is their favorite treat? Yes....So why do I struggle with getting her hair done? I don't know. Maybe because I have a lack of time and energy. That's a good possibility. Maybe sadness that my little Ugandan angle is turning a little American? Probably. I really don't know if I do a good job as a mom teaching my children to serve others as much as I serve my children. That makes them my idol. That is my sin. I'm seeking Lord. I'm praying for God to show me. He will but right now, He's letting me breath. I am thankful. So, after one of the "chocolate ladies" at Joan's school said, "Her momma must be white" referring to Joan's "natural African" hair, I caved and went to one of the many places recommended to me and I had her hair "done".
She was so excited. It took about two hours which really isn't long. I'm sure as it continues to get longer, it will take longer to "fix" her hair. It had to hurt the way the lady pulled on it but Joan endured the pain...Beauty can sometimes be painful. As soon as Derrick saw her he said, "Momma, who did that to her?" I told him. I said, "Do you like it?" He said, "No. She doesn't look like Joanie." I agree with him. She looks different. She looks older. I didn't adopt these children to make them different. I adopted them because God grew them in my heart years before they came to live with us. This was HIS plan from the beginning. The children of Uganda have a special place in my heart. Maybe I've mentioned that one or twice. :) Today, I got to talk to all of the boys in SOZO's third house and Joel. They warmed my heart! They are 14 and 15 years old. All they wanted to know was "When are you coming to Uganda?". They are the future of Uganda. Please keep them in your prayers. Pray that they desire to know the Lord and HIS will for their lives. Pray that they follow Jesus and that they look for HIM wherever they are. Pray for them like you pray for your children. That is what "loving your neighbor" is. Listen to where He calls you and obey. I am called not to let them forget and I won't. God is teaching me how to train them up the way HE wants. It's different than the way I raised Laurel and Coleman but the love is the same and just as great. My chocolate babies momma is very white. She was right. I can't dance. I burn before I tan. I do love Mow Town and Joan and I watched The Temptations and Smoky Robinson the other night and we both loved it. They move in sync when they dance so she can "see" the rhythm. I don't know what we will do with the hair going forward. I pray everyday that I only live one day at a time. Thinking much further ahead than that is my pride because there are no guarantees about tomorrow. Her new "do" is cute and it has grown on me. She isn't in Uganda anymore and neither am I. I know that I am not perfect but I pray God will give me the strength to press on and take hold of what Jesus puts in front of me and that HE will continue to keep me in HIS grip!
Praising God From Whom All Blessings Flow,
Amiee :)
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| "Beautiful Before" |
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| "Smiling through the pain" |
She was so excited. It took about two hours which really isn't long. I'm sure as it continues to get longer, it will take longer to "fix" her hair. It had to hurt the way the lady pulled on it but Joan endured the pain...Beauty can sometimes be painful. As soon as Derrick saw her he said, "Momma, who did that to her?" I told him. I said, "Do you like it?" He said, "No. She doesn't look like Joanie." I agree with him. She looks different. She looks older. I didn't adopt these children to make them different. I adopted them because God grew them in my heart years before they came to live with us. This was HIS plan from the beginning. The children of Uganda have a special place in my heart. Maybe I've mentioned that one or twice. :) Today, I got to talk to all of the boys in SOZO's third house and Joel. They warmed my heart! They are 14 and 15 years old. All they wanted to know was "When are you coming to Uganda?". They are the future of Uganda. Please keep them in your prayers. Pray that they desire to know the Lord and HIS will for their lives. Pray that they follow Jesus and that they look for HIM wherever they are. Pray for them like you pray for your children. That is what "loving your neighbor" is. Listen to where He calls you and obey. I am called not to let them forget and I won't. God is teaching me how to train them up the way HE wants. It's different than the way I raised Laurel and Coleman but the love is the same and just as great. My chocolate babies momma is very white. She was right. I can't dance. I burn before I tan. I do love Mow Town and Joan and I watched The Temptations and Smoky Robinson the other night and we both loved it. They move in sync when they dance so she can "see" the rhythm. I don't know what we will do with the hair going forward. I pray everyday that I only live one day at a time. Thinking much further ahead than that is my pride because there are no guarantees about tomorrow. Her new "do" is cute and it has grown on me. She isn't in Uganda anymore and neither am I. I know that I am not perfect but I pray God will give me the strength to press on and take hold of what Jesus puts in front of me and that HE will continue to keep me in HIS grip!
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| "Same Joanie, new do" |
Praising God From Whom All Blessings Flow,
Amiee :)
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
"Won't you be my neighbor..."
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:37-38
Today is Easter Sunday. I have so much to share about our "first" Easter as a family but something has been heavy on my heart for about a week. Let me start by saying when I write this blog, I usually don't know where it's going to end up. I have found if I'm inhibited to write something, that's a sure way to identify that satan is trying to hide the light that is for God's glory. If it takes me longer than 15 minutes, I start over thinking it...trying to "fix" it and that's not where God wants me any more..."fixing" what HE intends to use for HIS glory. In the past, when someone or something made me feel uncomfortable, I had several ways of dealing with the person or the situation. I avoided or ignored the situation or the person. Or one of my most self destructive tendencies was to internalize this and go overboard "trying to fix it". This was a major form of pride in my life. Here are a few lines of Beth Moore's poem "My Name is Pride" that completely describe me..."My name is Pride. I am a cheater. I cheat you of your God - given destiny...because you demand your own way. I cheat you of contentment...because you "deserve better than this." I cheat you of healing...because you are to full of you to forgive. I cheat you of holiness..because you refuse to admit when you are wrong. I cheat you of vision...because you'd rather look in the mirror than out a window. I cheat you of genuine friendship...because nobody's going to know the real you. I cheat you of love...because real romance demands sacrifice. I cheat you of greatness in heaven...because you refuse to wash another's feet on earth. I cheat you of God's glory...because I convinced you to seek your own. My name is Pride. I am a cheater. You like me because you think I'm always looking out for you. Untrue. I'm looking to make a fool of you. God has so much for you, I admit, but don't worry...If you stick with me you'll never know." Okay, my pride thought I only identified with a line or two but as I was typing, God showed me again that I'm soooo prideful so thank you Beth Moore for sharing this poem with me. I think you must have met be before.
I have been very fortunate in the area of the globe where live, people have been very receptive to our adoption. I have experienced something recently that has perplexed me. I don't want to go into who has offended me and please don't ask me. I will be inclined to gossip and I'm trying to overcome my sinful tongue. My tendency when I am moved out of my comfort zone in a relationship is to avoid the person or the situation because "I want my own way, I deserve better, and I don't want to wash this person's feet!" As Beth Moore has so beautifully reminded me, this is pride and it's very familiar to me. I have been examining over the past week what my "sin", "character defect" or "my part" may be in this situation. God has directed me to the scripture above specifically the second verse, "love your neighbor as yourself". When I was in the uncomfortable situation, I wanted to shout this to the instigator of my anger. I wanted to shake them and say, "these people" are your neighbor. Then, because of the loving spirit of a friend that I shared with gently reminded me, "be the vessel, not the messenger". Even though I didn't like the comment that was made to me, God can and will still use me to sharpen them and HE has definitely used them to sharpen me. My anger was the first sign that I was prideful. I was focused on how I could manipulate the situation. I wanted to be "right". The comment was very painful to me because "these people" are now my children, family, and they are part of the body of Christ and they need their neighbors to "love them". Do they live in my zip code? No. Do they have the same color of skin as me? No. Do they speak the same language as me? No. Are they my neighbor? YES. God commands me to love them. It's not optional. It's not when it's convenient for me. It has to be like breathing or I am missing what God has told me. Well friend that offended me, I am confessing my pride to God because I judged you and I didn't love you well. That is not how God intends to use my witness. Because God commands me to love my neighbor as myself, I will pray that through the situation that God will be bringing your way, you can come to know your neighbor. I didn't "know" my neighbor for 42 years. I thought I did but I really didn't and I also didn't have the desire to know them. God has greatly changed my heart and I am thankful. I pray that I will not sit in judgement of your words because that is MY pride, my sin, my character defect. I will love you well. I will not be tempted to control this situation because in the end, God will be glorified. That's all that matters.
Okay, now that I've gotten that off my chest let me tell you we had a wonderful Easter! We had a low key beautiful day! The kids, all four of them loved looking for the Easter Eggs. Derrick actually found more than Joan. Laurel and Colman, well they had fun too! God has so blessed my life with my family. I love how my children love each other. It's beautiful to watch how they have blended as siblings. They look out for each other and love each other well. We are trying to explain the resurrection to Joan because she has asked to be baptized but she is having trouble understanding "the blood" of Jesus. As we get more language, I know she will begin to understand better that HE gave his life for us so that we can live with HIM forever. What good news that really is in my life!
Praising God From Whom All Blessings Flow,
Amiee :)
Today is Easter Sunday. I have so much to share about our "first" Easter as a family but something has been heavy on my heart for about a week. Let me start by saying when I write this blog, I usually don't know where it's going to end up. I have found if I'm inhibited to write something, that's a sure way to identify that satan is trying to hide the light that is for God's glory. If it takes me longer than 15 minutes, I start over thinking it...trying to "fix" it and that's not where God wants me any more..."fixing" what HE intends to use for HIS glory. In the past, when someone or something made me feel uncomfortable, I had several ways of dealing with the person or the situation. I avoided or ignored the situation or the person. Or one of my most self destructive tendencies was to internalize this and go overboard "trying to fix it". This was a major form of pride in my life. Here are a few lines of Beth Moore's poem "My Name is Pride" that completely describe me..."My name is Pride. I am a cheater. I cheat you of your God - given destiny...because you demand your own way. I cheat you of contentment...because you "deserve better than this." I cheat you of healing...because you are to full of you to forgive. I cheat you of holiness..because you refuse to admit when you are wrong. I cheat you of vision...because you'd rather look in the mirror than out a window. I cheat you of genuine friendship...because nobody's going to know the real you. I cheat you of love...because real romance demands sacrifice. I cheat you of greatness in heaven...because you refuse to wash another's feet on earth. I cheat you of God's glory...because I convinced you to seek your own. My name is Pride. I am a cheater. You like me because you think I'm always looking out for you. Untrue. I'm looking to make a fool of you. God has so much for you, I admit, but don't worry...If you stick with me you'll never know." Okay, my pride thought I only identified with a line or two but as I was typing, God showed me again that I'm soooo prideful so thank you Beth Moore for sharing this poem with me. I think you must have met be before.
I have been very fortunate in the area of the globe where live, people have been very receptive to our adoption. I have experienced something recently that has perplexed me. I don't want to go into who has offended me and please don't ask me. I will be inclined to gossip and I'm trying to overcome my sinful tongue. My tendency when I am moved out of my comfort zone in a relationship is to avoid the person or the situation because "I want my own way, I deserve better, and I don't want to wash this person's feet!" As Beth Moore has so beautifully reminded me, this is pride and it's very familiar to me. I have been examining over the past week what my "sin", "character defect" or "my part" may be in this situation. God has directed me to the scripture above specifically the second verse, "love your neighbor as yourself". When I was in the uncomfortable situation, I wanted to shout this to the instigator of my anger. I wanted to shake them and say, "these people" are your neighbor. Then, because of the loving spirit of a friend that I shared with gently reminded me, "be the vessel, not the messenger". Even though I didn't like the comment that was made to me, God can and will still use me to sharpen them and HE has definitely used them to sharpen me. My anger was the first sign that I was prideful. I was focused on how I could manipulate the situation. I wanted to be "right". The comment was very painful to me because "these people" are now my children, family, and they are part of the body of Christ and they need their neighbors to "love them". Do they live in my zip code? No. Do they have the same color of skin as me? No. Do they speak the same language as me? No. Are they my neighbor? YES. God commands me to love them. It's not optional. It's not when it's convenient for me. It has to be like breathing or I am missing what God has told me. Well friend that offended me, I am confessing my pride to God because I judged you and I didn't love you well. That is not how God intends to use my witness. Because God commands me to love my neighbor as myself, I will pray that through the situation that God will be bringing your way, you can come to know your neighbor. I didn't "know" my neighbor for 42 years. I thought I did but I really didn't and I also didn't have the desire to know them. God has greatly changed my heart and I am thankful. I pray that I will not sit in judgement of your words because that is MY pride, my sin, my character defect. I will love you well. I will not be tempted to control this situation because in the end, God will be glorified. That's all that matters.
Okay, now that I've gotten that off my chest let me tell you we had a wonderful Easter! We had a low key beautiful day! The kids, all four of them loved looking for the Easter Eggs. Derrick actually found more than Joan. Laurel and Colman, well they had fun too! God has so blessed my life with my family. I love how my children love each other. It's beautiful to watch how they have blended as siblings. They look out for each other and love each other well. We are trying to explain the resurrection to Joan because she has asked to be baptized but she is having trouble understanding "the blood" of Jesus. As we get more language, I know she will begin to understand better that HE gave his life for us so that we can live with HIM forever. What good news that really is in my life!
Praising God From Whom All Blessings Flow,
Amiee :)
Monday, March 26, 2012
"This is the way; walk in it!"
"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." Isaiah 30:21
I love this scripture. It's so true. I have seen evidence throughout my entire life that no matter which way I turn, God is showing me the way and all HE asks of me is to "walk in it". I'm trying Lord. I'm really trying. We took the family to Canada for Spring Break. We had this idea last fall. We thought, we all have passports. It's closer than Uganda. No problem. The only other time we've been out of the country is to go to Africa. We'll let me say it was a fantastic trip but I hope we never work with Priceline again! I think it snowed about 30 inches while we were there. The kids loved it! They had never seen mountains or snow so we killed two birds with one stone. The website for the ski resort we went to led me to believe they would have an ASL instructor for Joan and that's what I thought I had booked for her. Evidently, the instructor quit. Note to self: other countries are not required to provide an ASL interpreter for Joan. So maybe I turned left on this one when God may have said "turn right" but I still heard HIM say, "trust me and I will use this for my glory" and HE did. I had explained to manager that I had a deaf child but they had not met Joan and Derrick. There seem to be some question that I was undercharged. This is never a pleasant experience to think that it could be "even more". I was tired from the long trip there. But I trusted God to work it all out and boy did HE. I spent the first 1/2 day on the mountain with the children. I wanted to make sure everyone felt comfortable with communication, especially Joan. Don't think for one second if she didn't like the conditions she was in she would find a way to tell me about it. That girl will let me know. Remember, she has no filter and God blessed her with an amazing mind. She knows what she knows. (Reminds me of a couple of other family members). Anyway, all was well and the ladies couldn't have been any nicer. They had J and D on the "magic carpet" within 30 minutes of the lesson starting and off they went down the "mountain". They were skiing. No one cried or complained. They both did great and continued to improve throughout the week and by the last day, they were skiing down the mountain with our group.
Through some of the conversations I had with the instructors, I could tell there was some information that may be important for them to know about Joan and Derrick's past but what was really happening was God was once again reminding me about who they are...They are HIS and HE is sharing them with me. This time last year, they were sleeping on "little beds of trash" Derrick told me. They were eating porridge. Have you seen porridge? It looks like glue and that's what they survived on as far as I can tell. Less than 8 months ago, they were living in the slums of Kabalagala with no running water, much less hot water. Derrick told us recently that Joan was hit by a truck. The truck was honking at her and she didn't hear it so "he just ran over her". Derrick says he watched it happen and she had blood all over her leg. I will never know everything they have been through but I believe they know God and they are taught at Rays of Hope to listen to God and they are taught to "walk in it". Thank you JOEL for teaching these children that give me HOPE daily to "walk in it". They may eat porridge for breakfast but they are getting meat and potatoes for the SOUL from Rays of HOPE and SOZO. I pray that more and more people get the burning desire to take a SOZO mission trip and go to Uganda and meet these amazing people that pour their lives out to these children only for the glory of God. I have said this before, adopting J and D have blessed my life so much more than my pride every let me realize that they could. OH God is so good!
So many times in my life I have tried to "walk around" what God has wanted me to "walk in". I have been reliant on myself, prideful, judgmental and I have lived in fear. I didn't really know who God was. I saw the biggest mountains I have ever seen with my eyes last week in Canada yet my eyes were open in Uganda to see the mountains that God moved. I "walked in it" and saw God's love for me through the suffering eyes of children that know HIM well. My life of entitlement came to a screeching halt on June 25, 2011.
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| Whistler, Canada 2012 |
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| "Ready to go down Blackcomb Mountain" |
Through some of the conversations I had with the instructors, I could tell there was some information that may be important for them to know about Joan and Derrick's past but what was really happening was God was once again reminding me about who they are...They are HIS and HE is sharing them with me. This time last year, they were sleeping on "little beds of trash" Derrick told me. They were eating porridge. Have you seen porridge? It looks like glue and that's what they survived on as far as I can tell. Less than 8 months ago, they were living in the slums of Kabalagala with no running water, much less hot water. Derrick told us recently that Joan was hit by a truck. The truck was honking at her and she didn't hear it so "he just ran over her". Derrick says he watched it happen and she had blood all over her leg. I will never know everything they have been through but I believe they know God and they are taught at Rays of Hope to listen to God and they are taught to "walk in it". Thank you JOEL for teaching these children that give me HOPE daily to "walk in it". They may eat porridge for breakfast but they are getting meat and potatoes for the SOUL from Rays of HOPE and SOZO. I pray that more and more people get the burning desire to take a SOZO mission trip and go to Uganda and meet these amazing people that pour their lives out to these children only for the glory of God. I have said this before, adopting J and D have blessed my life so much more than my pride every let me realize that they could. OH God is so good!
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| "Tubing was great!" |
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| "Riding the Gondola" |
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| "Olympic Park" |
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| "Hot tubing" |
I was the back of the pack on the slopes this year. Laurel, Coleman and Todd waited patiently for me at the bottom of each run. Derrick skis with no control and goes straight down the hill giggling the entire way. They told me Joan could probably ski almost any "blue run" with no problem. She and I had a race. I was going to let her win but she turned around and stuck her tongue out at me so I had to beat her. I love her to much to "let" her win. I only have a couple of years at best to beat her anyway. This was a great trip with great friends! God equipped us for every event. Laurel and Coleman were Joan and Derrick's ages when they began to ski 7 years ago. I feel like I blinked my eyes and now they are taller than me. I'm sure part of the reason God chose our family for Joan and Derrick is because they are the greatest brother and sister to each other but also to J and D. I don't have to ask them for help. It's just what they do...who they are. Todd, I love you with all of my heart. You are the leader of our crazy little family. You are my best friend! Thank you for a fantastic trip. I'm thankful my family could be a reality t.v. show. I don't want to "blend in" anymore. If I start to blend in, put me on a plane to SOZO right away. If I'm blending in, I'm "walking around it" not "through it". I'm not listening to the voice behind me that is my Savior. HE never stops pursuing me. HE never gives up on me. HE will always carry me. To God be the glory!
In HIS grip,
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| "The love of my life!" |
Amiee :)
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