Today at the well, Patty posed the following discussion questions to us:
Think about your daily life as a wife, mother and child of God.
What are some ways that you have persisted when you have been knocked down?
How have these circumstances brought glory to the Father?
James 1:12 states, “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those that love Him.”
(This is a picture of our princess while in the hospital. My husband bought her that little donkey that she STILL carries. She was 5 pounds 4 ounces. So beautiful.)
Did I forget to mention the fact that we had been married 15 years when our princess was born? Before she was born, there were A LOT of tears shed on dreaded “Mother’s Day,” “baby showers,” and “baby dedications” at church. A lot of tears shed due to cruel (though not intentional) comments from acquaintances. God was faithful as my Comforter all of those years. Everyone who knows our daughter sees God’s Hand on her little life. She is anointed with His joy.
Don’t we all persevere through our walk with the Lord? I don’t see how any of us can be Christians and not persevere.
Hebrews 10:36 declares, “You need to persevere because when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.”
Romans 5:2b-4 states, “And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”
Joshua 24:15 proclaims, “… But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”
If you would like to join the discussion at the Well, click here.
BTW … since I’m getting comments about the adoption — in case you’re intereseted, here is a blog I wrote about our adoption. Click HERE.
Hi Beth,
What powerful scriptures you’ve shared today. Thank you so much. God definitely prepares the way. Your little princess is so precious. God had a plan all along…you persevered. Keep the faith!
By the way, I love the picture of y’all heading to Walmart! Great shot. She is just a cutie.
This is a hard subject for me, But yesyes you have been blessed!.
So happy for you
Hugggsss and love to you my friend
Looks like your perceverance has paid off! What a sweet blessing to have that little girl and to know that she came at just the right moment in time. God’s timing is best and he will not waste a single tear. Each is an added portion of the character that is you. Blessings my friend:)
What a sweet picture of your daughter. You have been blessed.
I enjoy reading your posts. You inspire me!
Thanks and Happy Monday!!
Oh Beth, I remember feeling very sad on Mother’s Day, baby dedications, etc too. I’m so glad you were able to adopt a baby. As I’ve grown older, the pain is certainly less intense. The Lord remembered my desire for children and gave me the special privilege of teaching little 3-5 years old in Bible Study Fellowship. I also love to spoil my nieces and nephews. But I think there will always be a little place in my heart that grieves.
Beth,
I agree I don’t see how we can make it if we don’t persevere.
What a beautiful baby…. chosen by God Himself… just for you both. What an Awesome God we serve!!!!
Thank you for sharing.
Blessings,
Sue
I loved all the scriptures you shared, Beth!!!
What an awesome testimony you have!! I can imagine all the heartbreak you went through with the two previous adoptions, but God ultimately had the perfect plan for your family!!!
Thank you for sharing, my friend!!!
Wow! Some great reading! You have truly been blessed!
Beth,
you are truly blessed! Your patience and your perceverance paid off, look what God gave you!
She is a precious beautiful gift from God and this post touched me, I had to wipe away the tears (happy ones).
{{{hugs}} my dear friend!!
What a beautiful testimony of how persistence and trusting God is worth it all! Interesting that you connected persistence and perseverance together … I also did that on my post. 🙂
-blessings to you, Laurie
What an angel! I can’t wait to hear more of your story. Did you adopt her at birth?
Perseverance always pays off! Even in our heartache, God is working it out for good.. and your precious daughter is more than good! Praise God!! God is good all the time!
What a story, Beth! I cannot imagine the heartbreak as the birth mother backed out. What a treasure your little girl is!!
Hugs!
Such a sweet story and testimony, dear Beth. I am looking at your daughter and I could say, she is very blessed. 🙂
God bless you and your husband and your daughter, too.
I agree with perseverance.
God has certainly blessed you with His faithfulness. I know the pain of a failed adoption, but God certainly had your precious daughter waiting for you didn’t He. Even though you didn’t know it.
Wonderful verses reminding us of God’s purpose in the waiting, and the hope that comes when we persevere in Him.
You and your husband expressed great persistence by not giving up when it may have seemed as if adoption was “giving up” on you all.
Great!
smooches,
Larie
What a great post! Thanks so much for the encouragement of your story, while I am here at the beginning of the process of adoption!!!
It’s glad to see someone who has been through it!
-Ashley
What a beautiful blessing God has given you through this little girl! I often realized in my own life that whenever God held back other things that I wanted, he was just making me wait for the perfect one he chose for me. He did that for you guys too 🙂
Bless you Beth, I can’t imagine how difficult that was to wait. Although our circumstances are different in our trials we all learn what waiting is don’t we? I like what Deanna (the younger one) said about deep pain, how once we’ve experienced it we can relate to others going through deep pain, regardless if their situation is different, it is the pain we know. Once again, bless you…
What are some ways that you have persisted when you have been knocked down?
I just thought about my weekend when I was faced with some very difficult harsh times…I remember standing at the kitchen telling the Lord, ‘I refuse to allow Satan to destroy my family. I am NOT going to let him steal, kill and destroy from us. Father God, I KNOW Your going to bring about good,,so I will rest in You right now, EVEN though I’m hurting, even though my flesh wants to run, to give up, to scream ENOUGH..I will rest in You and hope”…
Your devotional was SO powerful. That pic of your precious girl almost made me cry!!! I LOVE pics of sleeping wee ones…((hugs))
I love this post, Beth. I can’t imagine what you heart felt all those years. I can totally relate to wanting something you don’t have YET. I am most definitely in that boat. I am waiting, prayingn and most importantly believing in God to resurrect a dead marriage. My 20 months may seem like nothing compared to your 15 years. However, they have been lonely…walking with God without my destined partner, fearful that beloved’s free will will somehow reign over God’s power because I know He won’t force His children to obey. I just pray it’s sooner than later…time is running out before our King returns…but then it won’t matter, huh?
I love James 1:12. I love all of James. The other scriptures just go so well also.
You have been sweetly blessed.
Thank you so much for sharing, Beth, about your persistence. She is adorable and so worth the perserverance. Praise God for your being able to adopt! What a blessing!
How precious! That must have been a tough ordeal! Thank you for your prayers for my SIL. I posted a quick update earlier today. May you have a blessed week! Amanda
What a wonderful reminder my friend! God is working things out for our greater good even when we can’t see it.
Thanks for the scriptures! I hope you are doing well my friend! And I hope your little one enjoyed the snow!
Awesome testimony my friend!!
persistence is a great word for the adoption process..
Your princess is darlin’ Beth! You are blessed indeed.
Wow I am coming back and writing some of this down!
I totally was oblivious to the matching shirt scene- surely I could have found some that weren’t like that- hahahaha
It helps me to be able to wear his shirts!haha
Got alot of snow? I know our old neighborhood did up there! Lucky ya’ll it is the 90’s this week here.
Beth, this was a beautiful post!
I also wrote about “perseverance” and quoted James!
Beth, I want you to know how much your comments mean to me!!!! I am really bad at responding quickly. I want you to know I SO appreciate them. You are such a Light shining for Him!
Blessings, friend!!!
This was a beautiful story of trial and perseverance. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences.
Beth,
What a beautiful testimony and how powerful God’s truths have been demonstrated in your life, my friend!
I’ve been blessed here today!
And I know that little sweetie has changed your life forever. My daughter & I were just looking at the picture she took of David and were impressed with her photography skills! Think she'll make a great future blogger! LOL!
Beth, This is a wonerful and from the heart post! Your faithfullness to the Lord paid off 😉 Blessings, Nancy
Precious Beth, my heart was once again warmed by what you shared. You both have been blessed with such a beautiful little girl. Love you.