I've been going through my rather large collection of unfinished drafts. My goal is to either publish or delete them. Some of them are being published under the dates I originally wrote them and others are getting updated. This is one of the latter.

I was tagged to post this a very long time ago. It needs posted before my birthday number changes. =)

Instructions:
Search for your answers using Google images and post one from the first page of results. Enjoy.

I know that as long as we are on earth our worship cannot compare to the eternal sinless worship we will engage in throughout eternity, but watching this video I feel like I have a taste...

Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?" And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, "Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals."

...And they sang a new song, saying,

"Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth."

Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!" And the four living creatures said, "Amen!" and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Revelation 5: 1-5, 9-14

Read Shawnda and her daughters' prayer for little Jeremiah. It moved my heart to greater faith and praise of our great God as I read it today.

To follow their adoption story, visit her blog. To purchase art as part of their fundraising endeavor, go here.

Josh and I watched "Once" this past week and really enjoyed it. I think Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova are our new favorite musicians. =) I'm not sure I will give an unconditional recommendation of the movie - but for discerning viewers who won't be offended by a bit of profanity, this is definitely worth seeing (and a must if you are a music lover!)

Check out the live performance of "Falling Slowly", one of our favorite songs from the movie.

A month ago I posted about our adoption plans. Since then God has answered prayer and given us definite direction and provision!

As I mentioned in the last update, our agency opened a program in Rwanda and that is a country with a HUGE number of orphans. With a population of 10 million people, 1 million are estimated to be orphaned children. Josh and I have thought a lot about that country and the children who are still reaping the consequences of everything that has happened there. Adoption is new for Rwanda and our agency's program is brand-spankin'-new, but when we found out that we actually qualified for it (Rwanda has some unusual requirements for adoptive families) we were definitely interested.

We took a step back from the Ethiopia program we were just beginning so that we could pray about whether we should consider Rwanda. We found out about two little boys who are currently there waiting - they are older than we initially had in mind for our family (2 & 4), but God stirred our hearts to them and we needed to see if He was directing us to a different path than we had anticipated. We received their names, several pictures of them, and proceeded to pray. In the mean time, Josh's motorcycle wasn't selling and we weren't sure what God was doing in regards to financial provision.

To make a long story short, God closed the door to those boys for us and made it clear through no decision of our own that they are not going to be ours. Because of various details I won't go into, this also closes the door to Rwanda for us at this time. We were disappointed because those boys need a family - both of their parents are dead.

But we are thankful that God is making his direction for us clear! On the same day the Rwanda door closed, Josh's motorcycle finally sold for the price Josh wanted providing the remaining money we needed to make the first significant payment towards the Ethiopia program. We also received two generous donations towards our adoption through our facebook adoption cause. God is so good.

We are very excited about Ethiopia - it's the country that has been in my heart since we were waiting for Eliana. We are feeling past ready for this process, but trust the wisdom of God's timing. So we go today to officially sign/ notarize our documents & get started on the homestudy & dossier. There is going to be a lot more money due along the way, but we are confident that God will provide it as he has provided this first chunk! Whahoo!



Related Posts: Adoption Update

Our friend Joy just returned from a mission trip to Ethiopia! See the amazing pictures and read the fascinating commentary at her blog.

The Kovaks are adopting a baby boy from Uganda! Every cent from a purchase of one of Jason's beautiful art prints will go towards easing the financial burden for their family!!!