Weekend Of Great Encouragement

What a refreshing weekend it has been! God has been encouraging me again and again and there is just NOTHING that beats that!!! I'll share a few of the things that He has reminded me of:

On Saturday night I picked up a card off the stack of our mail. I had been expecting this card and knew it was a graduation announcement for someone we adore in TX. I decided to open it and as I slid the card out of the envelope in big bold print (covering most of the card) was the verse Jeremiah 29:11. Those of you that know me well know how much it means to me to "stumble" across this verse unexpectedly. It has been a gift God has given me again and again throughout the adoption wait and it's always right when I need the reminding and almost always followed by news (good or bad) about our children. Then we went to church the next morning and wouldn't you know that the pastor quoted Jeremiah 29:11 (Jim leaned over to me and whispered that we better start packing our bags). Then we had some good friends over for a swim and bbq and our friend mentioned Jeremiah 29:11. Jim and I just looked at each other and smiled. I think God's making sure I get the message. ;)

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Then everything at church on Sunday struck my heart so strongly that I was moved and overwhelmed by God's presence and kindness until I was on the verge of just breaking down into sobs. From every word of each worship song to every word of the message~ It was exactly what I needed to hear and so like our God to bless me that way!!!

The message yesterday had a lot to do with everyday people that do not feel like anything special but God uses to become extraordinary heroes. In Judges 6 you can read the story of Gideon who is hiding out below ground out of fear of the Midianites and doing a mundane chore when the Angel of the Lord appeared to him and said "The Lord is with you mighty warrior!". Mighty warrior?? He's hiding underground out of fear! God did not see Gideon the way that Gideon saw himself (unimportant) but as the obedient and even brave man that God was going to call to do a great thing. Isn't that just like God to see us that way even when we can't imagine being brave or that while going about our "everyday" things that God has a great plan for our lives?

Then again this morning while reading the bible God caused these verses to stick out and encourage me greatly:

(When referring to the righteous man)~

He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is secure, he will have no fear; Psalm 112: 7-8

How great is that? If you're still with me this far in this long post~ thank you for letting me share with you my joy of what God is doing in my life (even when sometimes I don't see or understand it).