Jeremiah 49:4 Why do you brag of your once-famous strength? You're a broken-down has-been, a castoff who fondles his trophies and dreams of glory days and vainly thinks, 'No one can lay a hand on me.' Well, think again. It's time to settle accounts.
Jeremiah 49:16 Edom, you think you're so great—strutting across the stage of history, I'll bring you crashing to the ground." God's Decree.
Jeremiah 50:4-5 "Walking and weeping, they will seek Me, their God. They'll ask directions to Zion and set their faces. They'll come and hold tight to God, bound in a covenant eternal they'll never forget. No more losing track of home.
Jeremiah 50:20 The remnant that God spares will start out with a clean slate! Babylon never knew what hit them. 50:25 - Caught and held in the steel grip of a trap by a Sovereign God! That's what they get for taking on God. Babylon 's down.
This is not good news for Babylon. What happened when they were confronted with Isaiah 30:11, the Holy One of Israel? They took Him on. In what ways do I take on God when things don't go my way and I think they should? It's amazing God does anything for us. We can demand nothing. Walk and Weep, o my soul; Seek and hold on tight to a very Good God, bound in a covenant with you. What steel grip am I holding on to this night? What would it take for me to "let go?" Walk. Weep. Seek.
Cici just texted requesting prayer for God's favor. She flew to Washington DC Wed. night to get documents through State Dept asap pertaining to adoption. Pray for wisdom & favor with officials. Prov 21:1 the King's heart is like channels of water in the hands of the LORD turning it whatever way He wills. Join me in praying and may our Sovereign God show up today for this family.
ReplyDeleteFriends - I found out thru back channels at noon yesterday that our adoption country is shutting down adoptions "until further notice" on Tuesday. We are on the one-yard-line with our paperwork and just need our State Dept and their embassy in DC to authenticate our docs so we can get the
ReplyDeletethere by the deadline. A friend and I jumped on a plane last night and got here at 1:30 this morning, hoping that seeing our faces would help (and begging for mercy!). Neither of these places usually move quickly which is why we need your prayers for favor with these officials. Thank you for praying! I'm going on prayers, hope in my big God who sees, adrenaline and very little sleep. Will keep you posted. Much love and appreciation.
Cici-praying...
ReplyDeleteGracious Lord, May Your guiding Hand usher Cici in to the right places, open doors, bestow favor. May Your Light shine through Cici with Glory that testifies of Truth and Power and Life itself. Protect the children, Lord. Guard them under the shield of Your Wing. Fortify Cici in Your strength, give her a clear mind and help her heart through this trial. Show up in mighty ways that cannot be mistaken for anything but Your Presence. We love you Lord, and our confidence is in You all day long. In the Eternal Name of Jesus, Lord of All, Amen.
"Do you get it, Mister Pride? I'm your enemy!" Decree of the Master, God-of-the-Angel-Armies. "Time's run out on you: That's right: It's Doomsday. Mister Pride will fall flat on his face.No one will offer him a hand." - Jer. 50:31
ReplyDeleteSelf sufficiency is simply pride masked in an idealized "pick yourself up by your bootstraps" idealism. It's at the heart of the American spirit, and in the core of many generations of my heritage. And it defies God. Pride is His enemy.
Lord, help me recognize and repent when I am relying on my own strength and redirect me to fall into Your safe, open, catching Arms.
Cici, you jumped on a plane for a child whose face you've not seen.
ReplyDeleteRomans 14:8 - that's so pleasing to your God and may you be approved quickly by men. My packers didn't show up today so I'm going for a walk to pray for you. You are doing Neh 1:11 with your life---going about God's appointed task for you and that verse in the Nehemiah story is my prayer for you today--hear this servant who delights in honoring You and give her success today by granting her favor in the presence of these men. Gives me goosebumps to know God wrote that for you. Dan. 1: 8,9---with all we've been reading this year, it seems God is saying in Daniel to you: Resolve yourself to be holy and --- God, would you cause the officials to show favor like you did for Daniel. May God give you peace...He will cause He walks with you.
Praying Cici!
ReplyDeleteFather, You work and no man reverses. Your plan cannot be thwarted and we thank you that You allowed Cici to find out about the country shutting down adoptions. We ask that you would go before her and grant her favor with the State Dept. and embassy. You open doors that no man can shut and we pray for this door to open. Yes, our Rescuer is strong and we join in prayer asking that You will take this child's side...come to her rescue. May Your presence bring Cici the peace and stability she needs this day. And the strength and energy!
God bless, Cici! "Inasmuch as you did it to the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me."
FG
James 5:16 The prayer of a righteous (wo)man is powerful and effective.
ReplyDeleteGod heard us!!! On the plane to DC last night, I wrote down every one of my prayers for today because I didn't want to forget anything. God has answered EVERY SINGLE ONE of them today! Thank you, thank you for your prayers. They have sustained me today.
We flew through the State Dept. with no problems this morning. Got to the embassy by 9:00 only to be told that they weren't accepting any more dossiers. I prayed my brains out right there and said what was on my heart - inarticulate, weepy, desperate - and the man took pity on us. He took our documents but would not guarantee that we would have them by tomorrow.
The situation is a little fluid as the minister in the country has relented a bit due to all the chaos this sudden announcement created for the embassy in DC and all of the prospective adoptive families. The minister will now accept all dossiers that are in the embassy by the Tuesday deadline. It doesn't have to make it to Africa by then. Praise God!! God has answered even more prayers than I had the sense to ask!
Not sure that our docs at the embassy will be done tomorrow but at least that isn't so urgent now. I will stay in DC until I get my documents back and can FedEx them myself to Africa. Could be Friday or Monday or Tuesday. Not sure at this point.
Please ask God to give the embassy workers supernatural efficiency in getting these files reviewed and approved. I would really like to be able to be back with my family on Saturday.
I ran out of the house so quickly last night that I didn't even get to say goodbye to my kids. I barely made the flight. Made the decision to go at 5:30 and was out the door 5 minutes later for a 6:45 flight. God turned almost every light green on the way to the airport and got me there in record time during rush hour in Austin. Amazing.
Please continue to pray. My friend, Reagan, whose family is in the same situation as ours, is with me so at least I have a sister in Christ with me.
Still going on two hours of sleep. I'm tired, but very, very hopeful, grateful, and circumstantially happy.
Cici...I am so proud of you. No matter how this plays out, you have fought valiantly, mighty warrior! Now it's all in God's hands and there not a better place!
ReplyDeleteI came away from today's reading with one thought...only God could topple such a powerful nation as Babylon. Only God.
Thankful to be on the winning side of the battle between good and evil. Even when it looks like certain defeat...we know God can work.
Holy Father, Cici has some plans to bring a child into her family. One who needs love and compassion and food and training in TRUTH. Lord, bless the labor of Cici. Divinely bring about the homecoming of this addition to their family. Open doors for her in accordance with Your Will and Purpose for her life. Thank You, Father. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Cici, Les and I are at the JW Marriott on Pennsylvannia Ave in DC right now. We checked in yesterday and will be here until our return flight to Houston late Sunday afternoon.
ReplyDeletethis week has been so overwhelming I never saw this post until just now. I do not have your contact info only this post is how I communicate with you but am praying God's favor for you in this amazing effort of LOVE.
Annette G., Ang, or Bev feel free to give Cici my contact info. I know Annette G has it for sure.
We are here to Restore Honor to America and will be praying for our nation at the Lincoln Memorial on Saturday 8/28.
I would love to meet you and pray together if that is part of God's plan for us while we are in DC.
Send me an e-mail and I will provide my other info to you. svicain@fsf.biz
I praise God for the miracles that have brought Les and I to this city for today.
This is a Song I must sing of Love and Praise for my Heavenly Father of Love that cares for each one of His creations in such amazing ways.
Sylvia
Sylvia, I just received your phone message this morning and will text Cici your phone # in DC. On my way to work so I have to make this quick and get today's post up. Our internet has been down for the past 24 hours. The latest texts I received from Cici were good reports that she had made it inside the deadline and will be staying there to complete documents---probably by next Monday or so. Bev
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