http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+10:38&version=KJV
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2017:5-6&version=NASB
Tonight was a very special night. At 9 PM I arrived at Glacier Park International Airport with my 2 grandsons, Brett & Jaydon. The reason? To meet Mamush. Mamush is the 6-year-old adopted son of Casey & Lacey Bertram from our church. The Bertrams had just arrived at the airport minutes earlier after picking him up in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A little over a year ago the Bertram’s felt God’s call to adopt Mamush. It has been quite the journey. You can read about the experience in their own words (with pictures) at http://bertramfamilyblog-bertrams.blogspot.com/.
After securing the necessary financing for the adoption and successfully jumping through all the hoops, the Bertrams were ready to go get their son in June. They hoped that they would be on their way to Ethiopia in July. Or August at the latest. Unfortunately a lot of changes took place in the adoption system in Ethiopia. A number of adoption centers were closed. And the entire process slowed down dramatically. To a snail’s pace.
So July came and went. As did August. Then the Bertram’s received some disappointing news that they weren’t as far along in the process as they were led to believe. What was God doing? Were they going to get Mamush or not? A little uneasiness began to creep into the situation. Then September came and went. And so did October. The Bertram’s had now spent a whole year trying to adopt Mamush. As Lacey wryly observed, a couple can produce their own child in 9 months! Months passed by with very little progress. Fortunately pictures of Mamush would arrive just when the Bertram’s needed a little encouragement.
Then God fast-forwarded the situation. And how. Within days of hearing that the adoption was a ‘go’ the Bertrams were on a plane headed to Ethiopia and their son. Tonight, less than a week after they left Kalispell, the Bertrams arrived back home again, Mamush with them. What a wonderful scene it was as the Bertram’s 3 children got to meet the newest member of their family. And how special it was to see so many friends and family at the airport as well, to meet Mamush and to congratulate and support the Bertrams.
At our house, our grandchildren have prayed for Mamush at every meal for months on end. There’s something special about a child praying for another child. There’s this instant kind of connection. So earlier tonight when I told Brett & Jaydon to get their coats on because we were going to the airport to meet Mamush they were excited. What a great experience for them. A flesh-and-blood answer to their prayers. And in the weeks and months ahead I am sure that they are going to get very well acquainted with their new friend.
So what are the lessons learned in all this? Quite a few actually. That God rewards faith. When He puts a dream in our hearts He will make a way for it to come true. Patience is still a virtue. God’s timing is always perfect. That one couple who step out in faith can affect an entire church.
As a pastor I sometimes deal with situations that are difficult. Sad. Tragic. People drift away from God. Others get divorced. Some get cancer. Others ruin their health through addictions. How great it is to be involved in a situation where God is at work. Where people do the right thing, even though it may be difficult and costly. And God rewards them. Talk about encouragement. And faith-building. This is it!
Obviously not everyone can adopt a child. Or should. But everyone can step out in faith and make a difference. Somewhere. At work. At school. At church. In the community. And when we do, God will reward that faith. He will come through. He will make it happen. And when it does, we will be emboldened to take another step of faith. And another. And others will be emboldened as well. It is the ultimate win-win situation.
Thank you Casey & Lacey for showing us what faith is all about. For inspiring us. And challenging us. And showing us how it’s done!
Lord, I thank you for the Bretram’s safe arrival tonight with their adopted son, Mamush. I pray that in the years ahead that Mamush grows up to be a godly young man. I ask that You will give Casey & Lacey strength, patience, love and whatever else they need to realize this goal. I ask that their adoption would be the catalyst for more steps of faith in our church. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
After securing the necessary financing for the adoption and successfully jumping through all the hoops, the Bertrams were ready to go get their son in June. They hoped that they would be on their way to Ethiopia in July. Or August at the latest. Unfortunately a lot of changes took place in the adoption system in Ethiopia. A number of adoption centers were closed. And the entire process slowed down dramatically. To a snail’s pace.
So July came and went. As did August. Then the Bertram’s received some disappointing news that they weren’t as far along in the process as they were led to believe. What was God doing? Were they going to get Mamush or not? A little uneasiness began to creep into the situation. Then September came and went. And so did October. The Bertram’s had now spent a whole year trying to adopt Mamush. As Lacey wryly observed, a couple can produce their own child in 9 months! Months passed by with very little progress. Fortunately pictures of Mamush would arrive just when the Bertram’s needed a little encouragement.
Then God fast-forwarded the situation. And how. Within days of hearing that the adoption was a ‘go’ the Bertrams were on a plane headed to Ethiopia and their son. Tonight, less than a week after they left Kalispell, the Bertrams arrived back home again, Mamush with them. What a wonderful scene it was as the Bertram’s 3 children got to meet the newest member of their family. And how special it was to see so many friends and family at the airport as well, to meet Mamush and to congratulate and support the Bertrams.
At our house, our grandchildren have prayed for Mamush at every meal for months on end. There’s something special about a child praying for another child. There’s this instant kind of connection. So earlier tonight when I told Brett & Jaydon to get their coats on because we were going to the airport to meet Mamush they were excited. What a great experience for them. A flesh-and-blood answer to their prayers. And in the weeks and months ahead I am sure that they are going to get very well acquainted with their new friend.So what are the lessons learned in all this? Quite a few actually. That God rewards faith. When He puts a dream in our hearts He will make a way for it to come true. Patience is still a virtue. God’s timing is always perfect. That one couple who step out in faith can affect an entire church.
As a pastor I sometimes deal with situations that are difficult. Sad. Tragic. People drift away from God. Others get divorced. Some get cancer. Others ruin their health through addictions. How great it is to be involved in a situation where God is at work. Where people do the right thing, even though it may be difficult and costly. And God rewards them. Talk about encouragement. And faith-building. This is it!
Obviously not everyone can adopt a child. Or should. But everyone can step out in faith and make a difference. Somewhere. At work. At school. At church. In the community. And when we do, God will reward that faith. He will come through. He will make it happen. And when it does, we will be emboldened to take another step of faith. And another. And others will be emboldened as well. It is the ultimate win-win situation.
Thank you Casey & Lacey for showing us what faith is all about. For inspiring us. And challenging us. And showing us how it’s done!
Lord, I thank you for the Bretram’s safe arrival tonight with their adopted son, Mamush. I pray that in the years ahead that Mamush grows up to be a godly young man. I ask that You will give Casey & Lacey strength, patience, love and whatever else they need to realize this goal. I ask that their adoption would be the catalyst for more steps of faith in our church. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment