Prayer over schools

I can’t pretend that I know anything about the trauma and grief that the people in CT are living and feeling today. I can’t assume that I mourn with them or relate on any level. I cannot. And I can’t attempt to explain why God allowed this horrific tragedy to happen. I absolutely cannot fathom the depth of knowledge (for lack of a better word) of my God. I know He is sovereign Every. Single. Day. That is what I can cling to during times like this.

Another thing I can’t do is discuss gun control. I have strong opinions regarding this but honestly, don’t go there with me for a while. These families deserve so much more than to turn this tragedy into a political quarrel. Even more important than that, God deserves so much more. How quickly we jump to gun control and ignore the absence of God in our lives! Do you really think taking away a gun is going to solve the issue of violence? Fellow brother and sister in Christ, I’m looking you dead in the eyes and challenging you! Was Jesus concerned with weapons? Would He handle this situation this way? No, I don’t believe this is the approach He’d take. I believe He’d have us repent and pray. Prayer? You know that thing you can still do anytime, anywhere, for anyone?
Yes, I’m fired up. I’m angry at the situation, the response to the situation, and myself. I write this post out of personal conviction knowing that I’ve felt convicted to set up a prayer group at my daughter’s preschool for a year now. Did I? No. Do you pray for your child’s school, students, and staff? We may not have prayer in school, but you can’t stop me from praying for the school. Hear me clearly now, I am in no way implying that this event occurred because the CT school wasn’t being prayed over. Neither am I hoping that prayer will prevent bad things from happening. However, I do believe in the power of prayer and if I do not begin praying over my daughter’s school, it’s out of obvious selfishness and rebellion against God. I’d like to challenge you reader, to consider praying over your school. Last year I began to pray for Aisley’s school on my own using this resource: http://www.momsintouch.org/
You can use any format, organization, or group that you want. The point is to gather in the name of Christ and pray faithfully over the school, staff, and children. Begin with an attitude of reverence and thanksgiving for the school, praising God for all of our blessings. Then cover the school in prayer not only for safety from terrible situations, but for the children’s’ innocence, salvation, courage, integrity, health, and kind hearts. Pray that the staff will have renewed patience, gentleness, kindness, strength, and tolerance. Pray for each person’s family and home life. Pray for specific situations as they arise.

Why wouldn’t we pray for the people who spend most of the day with our children? Why wouldn’t we be concerned with the home life of the peers who directly influence our precious children? Can’t we see how they encourage and nurture each other or bully and torment each other?

Pardon me for wondering why we’re so quick to blame gun control when we should really be doing a little Christian soul searching. Maybe if we focused more on what we as individuals should be doing, we wouldn’t have to argue about guns.
I have to conclude that as a Christian who is humbly and imperfectly trying to live a Biblical life, if I’m worried about gun control, I’m not focused on the right thing. Today, out of respect for the victims in CT and in trust that God uses all things for our good and His glory, I’m committing to doing my part to make something good of this situation. Tomorrow I will approach our preschool and join an existing prayer group or begin one. I hope you will consider doing the same. The above link offers awesome resources for this kind of group. Let’s makes some real and permanent changes for the Kingdom, friends. Let’s focus our hearts not on what’s seen, but what is unseen.

Updates...again.

Blogging is very intimidating! Part of me thinks “My! Aren’t you full of yourself? Throwing your opinions out there as if anyone really wants to read them!” Another part of me is totally defeated by comparison to spiritually mature bloggers who have wisdom and experience to back their opinions. For now, I’ll continue to sort through life, parenting, adoption, and faith the best I can for those of you who choose to follow. Maybe you’ll learn from my mistakes. :)


On to the exciting news: the whole in the wall is done! YAY! We no longer have a live electrical wire dangling from the ceiling or chunks of plaster falling from the walls. It’s beautiful and FINISHED! Even better is the fact that we PASSED our fire inspection! This is HUGE, y’all!


Want more? We’ve completed all of our online training and are 95% finished with all paperwork! Can you believe it? I can’t. I never thought I’d get through that personal profile. Yuck!


It’s becoming very real now. Here’s what lies ahead:

Wrap up the home study:
We’ll meet with our case worker several times, do a home safety inspection, and pray that he approves us for adoption. If he approves us we’ll move to the next step. If he doesn’t, we’ll humbly send letters of apology and return checks to our kind supporters. But I’m confident this is God’s route for us, so let’s move on to the next step.

Dossier:
This is a whole mess of paperwork very similar to what was submitted for the home study, but in more detail. Copies of bank statements, proof of ownership, certified and notarized this, that, and the other. It’s a long list of things that don’t require me to psychoanalyze myself and for that, I’m grateful. Once everything is perfect, the home study and dossier will be sent to the Ethiopian Embassy for authentication and translation.

Then we wait for a referral. I’ve decided not to discuss the referal until our home study is approved. I don’t want to get too far ahead.

For now, please join us in praying for a successful and approved home study!