Now it makes more sense...

At the time I couldn't figure out why God would make us wait so long to get our daughter Micaiah. Guatemalan adoptions don't usually take longer that five to six months. Why would God allow ours to go almost a year?!
People kept commenting that God was teaching us patience. I disagreed. I experienced far more anxiety and frustration than patience. And I would have liked to work on patience, but since I didn't have a choice, I felt forced, helpless and a little rebellious. I didn't want to be patient.
Almost 18 months later we find ourselves without a job, our house on the market and no set plans concerning what is ahead... and it's ok. Somewhere between the beginning of our adoption and now I learned to wait. I learned how to have peace and trust in God. I'm still not sure I learned much about patience but I am sure that I'm in a better place. And the waiting makes more sense.
I'm not sure how we would have gotten through these times were it not for waiting for Micaiah. Even more so, I am enjoying the waiting. (Granted, it has only been a week but still, I'm enjoying it.) I'm sure it will get harder when three, four or five months come and I'm still waiting for God to reveal His will and our future. But His grace is sufficient for me. I'm certain it will cover us as much then as it does not and did while waiting for Micaiah.
I think the part that I enjoy the most is knowing that God is doing something cool while we wait. He was doing great things while Israel wandered in the wilderness. He was preparing hearts and changing hearts while Jonah waited in the whale. He was strengthening and healing hearts while Jesus waiting three days in the tomb. And He's working on our hearts now. I can sense my devotional time deepening and my prayer time becoming more personal. (And it's not even that I'm praying for our situation!) The waiting is truly a blessing... so far.
I'll post more on this topic as time passes but for now it's making more sense.

Happy Fathers' Day Daddy

I love you Daddy.

What a picture!

How many people can you find in this picture? I really enjoy these sort of optical illusions. The picture above has nine different people in it. Can you find them all? The secret is to change your perspective in depth, distance, clarity and expectation.

The Bible is very similar. In fact, on many pages of the Old Testament we will find hidden images of Jesus. Some of these images are pretty obvious. Theologians call them "types." These are individuals who portray almost prophetic characteristics of Jesus. Jesus pointed out one of these types when He talked about the sign of Jonah; both were hidden for three days. Abraham, Isaac, Moses, David, Adam... they were all types.

Other images are less clear. I really enjoy finding these little pictures. I found one just the other day. Check out this passage.

Genesis 2:19-22

22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. 23 The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman, for she was taken out of man." 24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. 25 The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.

The verse that stood out to me most was 24, "for this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh." As I was reading this verse for probably the hundredth time, for the first time, I read it as prophesy. Humanity was made in and of the image of Christ, an extension of His glory. For this reason, Christ would leave His Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit (The helper or wife figure of the Trinity) and be united to his bride, the church to share one flesh. Isn't that beautiful!?

Check out how well that idea parallels Colossians 1:15-22.

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. 21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight.

Wow!

I believe that whenever we see hints of the Trinity or the incarnation there are direct applications and opportunities to participate in the divine nature of Christ. As I meditated on this verse I encountered a wonderful calling to even greater ministry and sacrifice as a husband to my wife. I am reminded that Jesus left His divine family to join His bride in her state and condition. In light of this verse the "one flesh" nature of our relationship becomes more missional than consequential. With this interpretation, the idea in Ephesians 5 of washing my bride with the water of the Word to present her holy, without blemish is made more clear. When I obey the commands given to husbands, I not only bless my wife but myself with a tangible connection to the divine nature of Christ. Again, wow!

Now... good luck finding the other five people in the picture above.