Today we celebrated our oldest son’s birthday.  We had a great time celebrating with friends and family.  Everything was perfect, everything but one thing that is.  Today one year ago our foster children went home to be with Grandma. We had two little boys that we took home from the hospital and raised as our own.  We knew we shouldn’t but we couldn’t help it, we fell in love. Lil “D” was 4 days old when he arrived and he stayed until he was little over 2 years old. His brother was 4lbs old when he came home with us, yes he was a premie.  LiL “I” stayed with us 8 months.  It was a hard day, we know we should celebrate the fact that they are with their siblings and their Grandparents, but it’s had to celebrate with a broken heart. As Pastors, we know how to counsel and say all the right things to ourselves and others. Things like “God’s got a plan,” “Just trust the Lord, He knows what is best,” “God’s got this,” and so much more.  Truthfully, we might be ok with it all if we could just continue to be a part of their lives.  Unfortunately, their Grandparents don’t think it’s best.  For this, I will honestly say “God, Why?”  For a year now, both my wife and I have asked the same question and have received no answer.  Are we mad? Yes! Do we know that God can change the situation?  Yes! Have we quit serving Him because He hasn’t answered our prayers the way we want? NO!  Each and every day we wake up and decide, regardless of what we think or feel that God deserves our everything.   This is a place that each of us must reach. A place where even if things don’t go our way that we get up each and every day and serve in obedience.  Do we cry at night? Yes, we do. Do we plead for God to change the situation or to change our hearts? Yes, we do continually.  The truth is, Paul prayed continuely for his situation to change, yet everyday he got up and served in obedience. God’s answer to Paul.  God said, “My grace is sufficient for you.”  This is what God has told us too.  His grace is sufficient.  If you are walking with the Lord, you will have times that things seem wrong and you will pray for God to change it. When those prayers go unanswered, do not give up, do not quit.  Keep serving, keep following and keep your faith, for His grace is sufficient. Obedience is better than sacrifice and sometimes obedience requires sacrifice. Either way God is worthy. Never forget that He gave His all for you and He will never leave you or forsake you. Wether your request remains unanswered or if He fulfills it, God remains good.  Lord, we trust you, we may not like it, but we trust you and we will continue to follow yoru lead. 

Today we celebrated our oldest son’s birthday. We had a great time celebrating with friends and family. Everything was perfect, everything but one thing that is. One year ago today, our foster children went home to be with Grandma. We had two little boys that we took home from the hospital and raised as our own. We knew we shouldn’t, but we couldn’t help it. We fell in love. Lil “D” was four days old when he arrived, and he stayed until he was a little over two years old. His brother was 4lbs old when he came home with us. Yes, he was a premie. Lil “I” stayed with us for eight months. It was a hard day, we know we should celebrate the fact that they are with their siblings and their grandparents, but it’s had to celebrate with a broken heart.

As Pastors, we know how to counsel and say all the right things to ourselves and others. Things like “God’s got a plan,” “Just trust the Lord, He knows what is best,” “God’s got this,” and so much more. Truthfully, we might be ok with it if we could continue to be a part of their lives. Unfortunately, their Grandparents don’t think it’s best. For this, I will honestly say, “God, Why?” For a year now, both my wife and I have asked the same question and have received no answer. Are we mad? Yes! Do we know that God can change the situation? Yes!

Have we quit serving Him because He hasn’t answered our prayers the way we want? NO! Each day we wake up and decide, regardless of what we think or feel, that God deserves our everything. This is a place that each of us must reach. A place where even if things don’t go our way that we get up each and every day and serve in obedience. Do we cry at night? Yes, we do. Do we plead for God to change the situation or to change our hearts? Yes, we do continually. The truth is, Paul prayed continually for his situation to change, yet every day he got up and served in obedience. God’s answer to Paul. God said, “My grace is sufficient for you.” This is what God has told us too. His grace is sufficient. If you are walking with the Lord, you will have times when things seem wrong, and you will pray for God to change it. When those prayers go unanswered, do not give up, do not quit. Keep serving, keep following and keep your faith, for His grace is sufficient. Obedience is better than sacrifice, and sometimes obedience requires sacrifice. Either way, God is worthy. Never forget that He gave His all for you, and He will never leave you or forsake you. Whether your request remains unanswered or if He fulfills it, God remains good. Lord, we trust you, we may not like it, but we trust you and will continue to follow your lead. By the way, Happy Birthday, Choo Choo.