some good words

don't worry faithful readers. i'm not becoming obsessed with blogging, though it seems i've posted a lot lately.

first, we have a renter for our apartment! that's an answer to prayer even though the new tenant isn't coming until august, meaning we still owe july's rent. but we are relieved to get out of our lease so that we can make a smooth transition to our new house.

second, we chatted with a couple at our church this morning about adoption and ethiopia. they brought home their now-21-month old son, sam, about this time last year from ethiopia. it was such a blessing to see little sam running around, playing with his older brother and sister, knowing that God provided him with a wonderful family after he was abandoned by his birth mother. this family is such a picture of hope for us because we know, despite the daunting task of paperwork and raising money, that one day our child will be home with us. they were able to clarify some of the confusing parts of the adoption process, and they encouraged us with their passion for the orphans of the world. it continues to be obvious to us that the most difficult part of the adoption process is knowing there is a child out there meant to be yours and having to wait for government approval before that child can come home to you. but they reminded us this morning that the process will refine us, and we have already experienced that in many ways.

third, we had a guest preacher at church this morning who really brought a wonderful word. i told jamie that i will consult this guy if i ever become a preacher and want to lay the smack down on people without sounding mean or too preachy. he preached on isaiah 58, and i would encourage you to read the entire chapter even though i'm going to post a small section:

"is not this the fast i choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? (vv. 6-7)

like i said, you should read the whole chapter. but the preacher talked about how we possess such a skewed view of justice. we think of justice as the bad people getting what they deserve. but the bible gives us an understanding of justice that is much different. justice is how the world would be if we all still lived in the garden of eden and how the world will be when jesus comes again to bring final restoration. our job as christians is to work towards this restored world, even though we can never bring it about completely on our own and thus eagerly await jesus' return. but so often, we let our own selfishness get in the way. we are concerned too much with our own comfort and, as he put it this morning, preserving our own rights. we have turned so much inward that we've forgotten that there's an entire world out there groaning for redemption.

i told jamie this morning that we can't pat ourselves on the back for adopting, as if that's our one contribution to making the world a better place. there is still a lot we can do to turn away from our own selfishness and look towards the needs of others. but in regard to our adoption, we know that we need to be more careful with how we spend our time and money. if we want to raise funds for our adoption, we have to quit buying stuff we don't need. if we want a miracle to come in the form of financial provision, we have to seek God in his word and in prayer. the point is that we sacrifice so that someone else is bettered and so that the kingdom of God is furthered. and the great encouragement is that jesus was poor, jesus was the victim of injustice, and jesus knew what it meant to pour himself out on behalf of others. so jesus can identify not only with those we hope to help, but also with us as we seek to learn sacrifice and selflessness.

lastly, today is my wonderful husband's birthday! i've got to go make a chocolate cake...