Tuesday, September 24, 2019

room for more

Feels like our whole year has been about preparing room. First, we decided that our little yellow house didn't have enough room. Then, we worked like crazy to get those rooms nice enough for a new family to want them. We lived in a few different spots in the in-between time, getting ready for our own set of keys to the tall green house. But, even then we weren't ready to fill the rooms. It took hours of removing, cleaning, painting and flooring before everyone in the family got to truly move in.

 Now, "My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?" John 14:2

We bought this specific house so we could host foster children as a respite family. Last night, I screwed together the new crib. Each day this week, one more box shows up on our doorstep, the final pieces to prepare our house for licensing. We're so close.

Then, three weeks ago, a little blue test told us to start making room for another baby who won't just stay for a weekend. It's hard not to get overwhelmed, thinking about all of the changes to our little family so quickly. I spent nights googling how to fit three carseats into multiple different kinds of cars and small SUVs.

Now, today thickens the plot. Doctor visit after doctor visit makes it seem like we won't get to meet the newest baby here after all. I'm really struggling with this picture of rooms. Maybe this baby gets to the house with many rooms, first.

Either way, the struggling feels tangible right now. Death continues to think it has victory.
“Where, O death, is your victory?
    Where, O death, is your sting?”[a]
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
That's what Jesus gets to do. The room-preparer. He gets to look death in the eye and say, "you're powerless." Now, I just need to continue remembering that God's plans are redemptive. We're praying for Life to win for our little one, and knowing that all Life comes from God.

And as we wait for tests and doctors, we're one fire extinguisher and one medicine cabinet lock away from kids joining our family even sooner. Praise God who makes all things good. Even as we live in the midst of the mess. Heartaches and hopes. Praise with tears.

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Ephesians 5

Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints. Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting – all of which are out of character – but rather thanksgiving. For you can be confident of this one thing: that no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy (such a person is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them, for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light – for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth – and find out what pleases the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention. But all things being exposed by the light are made evident. For everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says:

“Awake, O sleeper!

Rise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you!”

Therefore be very careful how you live – not as unwise but as wise, taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is. And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church – he himself being the savior of the body. But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word, so that he may present the church to himself as glorious – not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one has ever hated his own body but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church, for we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is great – but I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

hey guys