Happy Monday everyone!! One amazing thing that has happened out of all the chaos and loss was that Papa, Tater, and I found a new church. While our other GA church has amazing people inside, I don't think we realized how much of going through the motions our family was doing. It was part of Papa's job. Sundays became very repetitive and mundane. However, now that Papa isn't working for a church we were free to find where we felt the Holy Spirit leading us.
Through a friend, we stumbled upon where we are now. And from day one we have felt the presence of the Lord in the worship, the people, and the sermons. Sometimes they feel like they were planned or directed just for me.
Our current series is over the first 11 chapters in Genesis. I was all settled in for a run down of creation. I feel pretty confident in my knowledge of creation. Heck I teach it every year. I have a song, several finger plays, and lots of books on the seven days of creation. Needless to say, I was ready to let my mind wonder and check out during the sermon.
However, with new life and fervor, our preacher has been bringing connections I have never heard of before. (And remember, Papa and I went to Bible College.) Learning to focus on the 'who' not the 'how' and learning the story of hope that is these songs from Moses.
Sundays sermon focused on the creation of the sun, moon, and stars. Many other places in scripture, we are told that WE should shine like stars. (Check out Psalm 8:3-4 in the Message - I LOVE the language used there!!)
One thing that amazes me about our church is how outwardly focused they are. Our challenge from Sunday was how can we shine like stars, holding up and supporting God's Word for all to see? I have been on fire lately for the foster care situation for us personally and our call to minister in that way. And I was challenged Sunday to see if anyone else in our church feels that call. Maybe our timing was changed for the greatest impact in the name of our Heavenly Father.
Just some food for thought......
Monday, May 5, 2014
Saturday, May 3, 2014
On the trail again
Momma Allen here, and after a time of being quiet, we are ready to get back in the trenches. Our fam of three has spent some time moving, reflecting, and rejoicing in what God has planned for us. That is the hardest to do in the dark, but when you are in the dark, you MUST follow the Light. God has led us down a path I don't know that we would have walked on our own. We relocated the clan, downsized in the 'stuff' category, and have found a new church family to worship with. In a lot of ways, it feels like years since we were on our way to adding Allens, when in reality it was only 6 months ago.
In that 6 months the Allens have decided we DEFINITELY hear the call of the Lord to grow our clan. Since the door to fostering was slammed shut with the events of November, we even wondered for a season if that was what we were supposed to be doing. However, God constantly reminded us of His calling through sermons, friends, and the ever popular Facebook post. My favorite one was posted by our church: "Are you willing to have your life interrupted? Are you flexible enough to allow a miracle to break into your perfectly scheduled life in the form of an interruption? Don't miss out on the chance to see God move. You may even be blessed to be part of someone else's miracle."
That last part is what I think sticks with me the most. As foster parents, our main prayer will be for the families of the child we are loving and pouring our hearts into. And the ultimate answer to that prayer will be the most devastating for us. So, we are preparing to be 'someone else's miracle'. That's definitely different. Maybe, just maybe, before I was going into it expecting OUR miracle. A little bundle of joy that would be ours. But really, we will be welcoming and loving someone else's child with the prayer for their healing which will ultimately take that child away.
Dear friends of ours have been fostering twin boys for 7 months, and recently the boys have returned to their biological father. I was talking to the momma and a case worker last weekend and I was expressing how hard that has to be when you are in it with the hope to adopt one day. The case worker said something amazing. She said "you may be an angel for four or five kids before you find yours." What a powerful ministry to these families we have the opportunity to be.
So.....with that long monologue out of the way :) We have started back where we left off. Papa Allen has a new job starting in July, and the Lord has provided some amazing work opportunities for him in the mean time that are keeping us a float. I have been one happy Momma because I have gotten to re-do some of our paperwork to include our new address and Papa's new work info. (You can read previous post to fully understand my love for the paperwork.) Once school is over (two more weeks!!!) we will have another home study in our new house, and our IMPACT training in June. Lord willing we will have our first placement before the summer break is over and be able to settle into a new routine before school starts back up. If not.....bring it on! Bring on the chaos and unplanned scheduled events! I'm ready!! :)
"Faith in God includes Faith in His Timing." - Neal A. Maxwell
In that 6 months the Allens have decided we DEFINITELY hear the call of the Lord to grow our clan. Since the door to fostering was slammed shut with the events of November, we even wondered for a season if that was what we were supposed to be doing. However, God constantly reminded us of His calling through sermons, friends, and the ever popular Facebook post. My favorite one was posted by our church: "Are you willing to have your life interrupted? Are you flexible enough to allow a miracle to break into your perfectly scheduled life in the form of an interruption? Don't miss out on the chance to see God move. You may even be blessed to be part of someone else's miracle."
That last part is what I think sticks with me the most. As foster parents, our main prayer will be for the families of the child we are loving and pouring our hearts into. And the ultimate answer to that prayer will be the most devastating for us. So, we are preparing to be 'someone else's miracle'. That's definitely different. Maybe, just maybe, before I was going into it expecting OUR miracle. A little bundle of joy that would be ours. But really, we will be welcoming and loving someone else's child with the prayer for their healing which will ultimately take that child away.
Dear friends of ours have been fostering twin boys for 7 months, and recently the boys have returned to their biological father. I was talking to the momma and a case worker last weekend and I was expressing how hard that has to be when you are in it with the hope to adopt one day. The case worker said something amazing. She said "you may be an angel for four or five kids before you find yours." What a powerful ministry to these families we have the opportunity to be.
So.....with that long monologue out of the way :) We have started back where we left off. Papa Allen has a new job starting in July, and the Lord has provided some amazing work opportunities for him in the mean time that are keeping us a float. I have been one happy Momma because I have gotten to re-do some of our paperwork to include our new address and Papa's new work info. (You can read previous post to fully understand my love for the paperwork.) Once school is over (two more weeks!!!) we will have another home study in our new house, and our IMPACT training in June. Lord willing we will have our first placement before the summer break is over and be able to settle into a new routine before school starts back up. If not.....bring it on! Bring on the chaos and unplanned scheduled events! I'm ready!! :)
"Faith in God includes Faith in His Timing." - Neal A. Maxwell
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