Crying happy tears

I've found myself crying happy tears several times already today (and it's only 2:00!).

As Jonah and I were driving to Costco this morning I was overwhelmed to the point of tears as I listened to this beautiful song called "I'm Adopted" (on our beloved Slugs & Bugs cd) which I've heard a hundred times before. {You can listen to it online here- the lyrics are wonderful- http://slugsandbugsandlullabies.wordpress.com/2011/11/09/im-adopted/.}
But this morning it brought tears to my eyes as I sang the lyrics, "Love came and found me, wrapped arms around me." I cried happy tears as I thought about how much I want to do this with my 2 children who live across the globe right now. I long to wrap my arms around them and for them to know how loved they are. And I trust and believe that God will do this. He will bring these precious children home to their loving family.

Then happy tears came to my eyes when I thought about the fact that this is exactly what God has done for me in the gospel. He sent His Son to die for my sins so when I repented and believed in Christ alone for my salvation, I would be no longer seperated from God by my sin. In fact, He came and found me. He rescued me out of the pit of my own sin and rebellion and wrapped His loving arms around me. He called me to turn from my sin & run toward Him. He brought me comfort, peace, joy, and forgiveness through the cross of Jesus. I am no longer an orphan trying to "save myself", God has adopted me as his child, and I have full inheritance with Jesus, his true Son. That is a-mazing. And I did nothing special to deserve it. No one does. "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." Ephesians 2:8-9. If you are relying on anything but Jesus's perfect record to know that you will spend eternity with God, then I lovingly urge you to repent (literally means to "turn away") and realize that it is a gift freely given that you can not earn. Put your hope & trust in Jesus Christ alone. Couldn't say it better than Martin Luther does in this quote,

"Irreligious people don't repent at all, and religious people repent only for their sins. But Christians "repent of their righteousness." That is what makes them become Christians- when they repent not just for being bad, but for having tried in so many ways to be good in order to avoid relying on Christ alone for their hope, worth, and salvation."

So back to the happy tears...
As we were heading in Costco Jon called me to tell me that we just got an email from our agency telling us that baby girl has passed the 1st phase of court and should complete the 2nd phase next week!! {In come the happy tears!!} Our baby girl will, God willing, OFFICIALLY be our daughter NEXT WEEK! Praise the Lord!! What sweet news to my ears! One step closer to being able to wrap my loving arms around my kiddos!

Please continue to pray with us for their safety and that the Lord would protect them from any harm, disease, or neglect. And that God would work out all of the final details (travel, 1 or 2 trips, dates, etc) for our children's good, our good, and His GLORY!

Thankful for my adoption into God's family,