I'll start back on August 16...we received an e-mail from our agency that our orphanage approached a higher up judge and he was questioning why we had not passed court already. With that information, we were all hoping and praying he would intervene and we would pass our 5th hearing on August 31. I really got my hopes up big time. So you can probably imagine the tears that flowed when I saw this...
In India an advocate is a lawyer. We knew to expect judges taking their time in the state that Mary-Lynn is in, but never dreamed the advocate would be a problem. Seeing "Advocate on strik" (strike) just left us with a lot of questions. What in the world!? What is going on? Why is he striking? Our agency tried to get information for us, but so far we have none.
So we spent the next 2 weeks just praying that the advocate and everyone that was suppose to be in court for us to pass would be! We had a sweet, sweet time of prayer after church last night with some amazing people.
But around 8:20 this morning the court site finally updated and I saw this...
We are disappointed. Not sure what is going on. Praying we get some information soon. But...
And like I have shared on another post in the past...God prepared me!! I even told Britt yesterday that I was hoping we would pass, but did not think we would based off my devotionals the past two days.
I want to share some of the things I wrote in Mary-Lynn's journal on Tuesday and Wednesday from my devotionals. I hope someone else can use these truths in whatever you are going through right now...
-Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:8-10
-Instead of giving up, he looked up. Instead of panicking, he prayed...David's example in Psalm 63 reminds us prayer isn't just a prescription for smooth sailing. Prayer is a decision to seek shelter from the storm. Prayer isn't merely clamoring for our way; it's choosing to cling to the One who knows the way...You see, even before God changed David's circumstances, prayer changed his outlook.
-Though David didn't understand what God was doing, he declared in prayer who he knew God to be. As he clung to the Rock of his salvation (2 Sam. 22:47), David's angst turned to adoration; his panic gave way to peace...Prayer may not instantly set us free from our problems, but it sets us free to enjoy the Lord's presence wherever we are...Even in our stuck places, God is there, holding us in His unrelenting grip of grace.
-In Psalm 23, David refers to God in the third person in verses 2 and 3. He lets me...He leads me...He renews. But in verses 4-6 when David talks about going through the dark valley he switches to second person. You are with me...Your rod and staff comfort me...You prepare a table...You anoint my head...Your goodness and love will follow me. That's oh so personal. It's as if David sees the darkness ahead, and he reaches out for God's hand.
-The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18
-But be encouraged that valleys are temporary; they do have an end. And valleys have a purpose. God never wastes our pain.
-Perspective. Obedience is costly on so many levels. Having an eternal focus won't necessarily make hardships or spiritual warfare any easier. However, we can be confident in the fact that what we endure in Jesus' name will have lasting value. Be obedient, be steadfast and be faithful. He's walking hand in hand with you and will give you the strength and endurance to fulfill His calling for your life.
Please pray along with us that the strike, or whatever is going on, will end before our next hearing on October 3, and everyone will be in place for us to pass court. Pray for God to prepare Mary-Lynn for all the changes that will be coming her way, hopefully soon!
