So you have this...Really?

Why do we not believe Jesus when he tells us he'll give us everything we need?  So often I find myself saying  something like "...well if I don't take care of this, no one else will..." or  " its my responsibility,  I'll get it done..." We've all said things like this.  Self sufficiency....being capable...these are all good things but they are on the razor's edge of our unbelief.

Camping With A Purpose

We are faced with an obstacle and our first instinct is  "....I got this..."  What foolishness.  If we're honest, we have absolutely  -nothing.  You may say  " ....oh that's not true of me...I'm in total control..."  But which of us actually knows whats coming?  Which of you knows what's going to happen tomorrow and how it will affect you and those you love?  You don't have 'it' do you?  Well that's ok - nobody does. Nobody that is except for Jesus.

I'm going to tell you a story to prove to you that when you don't have it - Jesus does.  For those of you that don't know him -stay with me.  For those of you that do maybe you're facing something now and you need a reminder (as I often do).

Those of you who know us know that we're all about adoption.  You know about Naomi who I told just this morning "...our lives would be significantly less without you..."  She was the door through which many blessings came (and still are).  Jacob was the next one through that door.  Perhaps the gentlest soul I've ever met...happy...fearless...victor over death - with Jesus now  (you can read more about him in earlier posts).  

Lorrie and I started thinking we might adopt again in January of 2017. I had just started a new job with a fantastic company.  Great salary, benefits - you name it.  Plenty of income to pay for an adoption...I had this...

So you know one of the things that I love about Jesus most?  He's disruptive...  

In March of that same year my company made some radical (and wise) changes in it's compensation model and moved me to a commission plan. I had never before worked this way and it scared me to death.  Not only that, but since I was now on commission my base salary went down...way down - far enough that we considered holding off on adopting.  We sensed Jesus say ..."Keep going."  Wanting to "have this" I was very tempted to leave that company but it became very clear to me that Jesus intended me to stay and so I did.

Cleaning with A purpose

So here's the picture - we're doing Dave Ramsey (gazelle intense to get out of debt), our pay has been cut in a major way, I have no idea how successful at work I'll be (commission?) and we're adopting and that costs ~$35K.  Still Jesus says "Keep going..."  So we do what we can - after all Jesus told us to "Keep going".  We apply for grants, we set up a go fund me site.  Lorrie cleans houses, we do a fund raiser called 'camping with a purpose' - two weeks last summer living in our trailer so we could rent our home as a vacation rental.

I want you to know Jesus showed up as we kept going. You guys don't have time for me to tell you all the ways he  showed up - but here are a few:  He blessed my work (commission!), he raised up people  to give lavishly  (even a former employer of mine - who does that!?).  Frankly, if you look at our finances from last year - the math "doesn't add up".  But as of now we're mostly funded - we're going to be able to go get the boys.  He Has This.

We never "had this" or anything else for that matter.  He has it all.  When Jesus tells you he's about to do something, the only thing you have to do is believe him and then... it might be good to duck.  

So that's my story.  Jesus has this... this adoption, three little boys in the Philippines that we've never met and this family.... and a plan that He is carrying out - and it's good.  How exciting and life giving of a privilege is ours as we watch 'this' unfold....

You know as I write this I'm realizing that the 'this' we're all so obsessed with having ...is really Jesus - himself.

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God

Psalm 20:7

Thankful He has it all,

Marshall