A Really Exciting Announcement

We are praising Jehovah-Jireh – our God who provides.

The Lord who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

- II Corinthians 9:10-11

Thank you, oh giver of seed. You have supplied us with all the “seed” that we need, and you are enlarging our harvest. May others hear of our story and give thanks to you!

We are overwhelmed with thanksgiving. We have raised all of the money that we need for the adoption. I always knew that God would provide, but I never dreamed that it would happen so quickly. It has been only 7 ½ months since we announced our intentions, and we have raised/saved/earned over $25,000. Praise God!

I think I expected God to show up at the last minute, just when it seemed like it wouldn’t happen. But he has been merciful and kind. He has showed us his power and generosity. I feel the warmth of his love, and I sense his approval and power. We do not deserve to be treated so kindly. We owe him everything.

We have worked and prayed and saved and sacrificed. And meanwhile God called others to sacrifice and work and pray and save along with us. I have felt such joy and peace about our finances in the past months. Never before have I felt so purposed, so fulfilled, so blessed regarding money. We have worked to save every extra cent for something that has eternal value instead of spending our energy dreaming of how to spend money on ourselves.

And do you know what we are dying to do now? Give to other families who are raising money. We have been tremendously humbled and encouraged by those who have sacrificed to help fund our adoption. Now we want in on the fun!

Yes, our God gives “seed” (money) to the sower, and he has given to us freely. Our job is simply to scatter it. Scatter it and watch him work.

While saving for the adoption, we cut our budget down to the bare bones. It made us realize how much extra we really have. And God doesn’t give us excess so that we can build palaces for ourselves and eat, drink, and be merry the rest of our days. Instead he says:

Command those who are rich in this present world (that’s us!) not to be arrogant or to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way, they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

- I Timothy 6:17-19

Sure we have a little catching up to do financially. We have a few “necessary” expenses that we have put off until we had the money saved. But I’m starting to question how necessary they really are. Shouldn’t we be living our lives sacrificially all the time? I know for sure that I would rather lay up treasure for the coming age than spend it all on myself now.

You may be wondering about our T-shirt fundraiser. We have some exciting plans for them, and I will share those with you soon.

We want to say thank you: Thank you to everyone who sacrificed to donate money toward our adoption; thank you to all who purchased T-shirts; thank you to each family who gave us items to sell at our yard sales; thank you to every person who gave us the opportunity to work to earn extra money; thank you to everyone who said a prayer for us. You humble us. May you fully know the joy of giving. You have stored up treasure in heaven. God bless you.