"the" question

It's funny how that question seems to pop up on a daily basis almost. I don't mind really.. I'm not getting sick of it. I just wish I could have a different answer 1 of these days ;)

I've been single for a long time.. since birth actually (and don't worry, this isn't an ad to look for Mr. Right.. hehe. not my thing really) and I've never always felt this way about it. But when I became a Christian 7 years ago and after reading "I Kissed Dating Goodbye" by Joshua Harris, I've learned to enjoy singleness. Not just singleness mind you. But the more I knew God, the more I learned to be joyful in whatever situation or stage I'm in in life.


The Apostle Paul said that he has "...learned to be content whatever the circumstances."(Philippians 4:11) He went on to say "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." (Philippians 4:12).

It's amazing how that happens.




Hearing the 'news' about Babyanne's Mansion about 3 weeks ago devastated me. I didn't know whether to be mad, frustrated, disappointed or depressed. It was hard. Scary. Sad.
It would've been nice to have bought the land already.. put our stake on the ground and start building. It would've been nice to seee cement being poured and actual foundations of the building going up. But this happened. What do you do in that situation?

It's so difficult when something you're so passionate about is taking so long to come to pass. And the orphanage is 1 of them. I've been quite restless at the beginning of this year for some reason and it took me awhile to figure out why. After talking to God about it, I realized that there are so many things that I wanna happen and I'm not seeing them. I'm content of course cuz I have Christ, I have ALL I need. But I was discontented because I knew there could be something more.. things could be better.. that GOD had more in store for me.


After spending some time with God, I was led to that verse above and I couldn't help but appreciate the grace of God even more. Paul ends those verses up top with, "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13). I usually have been using this verse whenever I need strength to do something.. physical strength. But as I read this verse again, I realize that the reason why Paul can be content in whatever circumstance he was was due to the grace of God.. the strength of God that is within us.

Losing the land was tough. And though it's normal to be upset about situations like that, it so doesn't make sense to consider it pure joy when we face trials of that kind because the testing of our faith produces perseverance. And apparently, perseverane must finish its work so that we may be mature & complete, not lacking anything (James 1:2-5). Wow. It so does not make sense to be joyful in a trial. But knowing the truth behind what God's purpose was in that trial allows you to be joyful.

I don't think this was in our plans to not have a land at this time. At the end of this year, we hoped to have started building. But praise God that this trial has a purpose. Praise God that everything will work out for our good because we love God and we're called according to His purpose.
I personally believe that He wants to 'clean house' in this ministry. And my prayer really is for His fire to fall down so that anything that is not of Him will be burned up and what's left will be pure.


All the more, I am also beginning to be appreciative of the value of time.. the value of waiting. As humans, we want things done on our own time.. we want things done fast. But I praise God that He knows what He's doing. He knows when is the perfect time for things to take place. And although I was sad for that 'loss,' I am thankful for this time. It's difficult.. it's hard when you're being 'pruned.' The Bible says that discipline isn't nice when you're going through it. But knowing that God disciplines those He loves gives me the strength to accept the discipline and look forward to what the outcome of it will be.


Hallelujah!




**To all of you who have been so encouraging to us during this time, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.