To Walk On Water, You Must Get Out Of The Boat

God uses so many things to test our faith, circumstances, difficult times or situations, and sometimes even other people. Who are we going to listen to? Who is most important? I am quite sure the apostles did not always find it easy to follow Jesus. Can you imagine what their friends must have said. You're going to do what? Leave your family, leave your home, wander the land with this guy Jesus. You won't have your stuff with you. Peter, Matthew, James, hey - come on guys. What are you thinking!?

I imagine they must have been very decisive. That no mater what anyone else said, they knew it was the right thing to do.

I just love the story of Peter walking on the water. Peter was in the boat, minding his business, and then sees Jesus out having a nice evening walk on the water. Without a moment's hesitation, Peter steps out of the boat and walks towards Jesus. Walking where? On the water ! Oh my goodness, that is the coolest thing ever. What an extraordinary divine moment of faith !
Then, he realizes where he is ! Perhaps he thought something like this, 'What am I doing? I can't walk on water. [As he looks around and down. ]' Then and only at that moment he questions, and he starts to sink. Even then, Jesus in his infinite love towards Peter and His unending mercy, reaches out a hand to raise Peter up. Jesus saved Peter from drowning, and asked why Peter doubted.

Aren't our lives so often like that? We have this awesome faith, and start on a journey. Then we start doubting, thinking how difficult the road ahead will be and all the reasons why it won't work. Or, we hear all those doubts from the world. Adoption is so much like Peter walking on the water, with lots of moments to test our faith and trust Jesus to raise us up and save us so we can keep going. Then, the very long awaited end of this particular journey. And the look of that child's eyes looking back at you - Mama, Dada. All our kids called us Mama and Dada when they first met us or first began to talk after we adopted them.

My own faith has been tested a lot this past couple of weeks. Making the journey more public with a blog has certainly opened us up to others opinions both positive, challenging and even discouraging. It is such a personal journey. Praying is my number one resource, as Scott and I know that God knows best and has all the answers.

Our on-going prayer requests for ourselves are:
To receive the Lord's wisdom.
To follow the Lord's leading.
To hear the Lord's calling, whereever it may lead us.
To follow the Lord's will, even if it may differ from our own.
To become less, as God becomes more in our lives.
To receive health and healing in all our family
To say yes to God's plan for our lives and for our family.

If you would like to be a prayer warrior for our adoption journey, please email us at
richardsonstudios@charter.net with the words RICHARDSON PRAYER WARRIER in the subject line. We welcome your comments.

All children are special, unique, rare, and made in the image and likeness of God. Sometimes a decision to adopt one child over another is which child's life is in the most danger. As an adoptive parent, it is such a difficult decision. We pray for every single child that we ever had to say no to. We just can't save the whole world. Maybe though, we can change just a small part of it, one child at a time. Every child matters. Something that helps me keep going when my heart is breaking for the one child we were unable to help is when Jesus said 'there will always be poor.'
Thank you Lord for being in charge.

Adoption has a way of emptying ones pockets, and filling the quiver.

Some people are adamantly against fundraising for an adoption, and completely against or even angered by someone asking for help to adopt a child or raise money for any cause. For those of you feeling like I am this week - discouraged and doubted, keep the faith. Don't give up. There is a child or children who desperately need you. You really may very well be the one person who helps to save their life, figuratively or literally. I am a complete supporter of fundraising for adoption. Ask for the money, the gifts. God will lead you. A child's life is worth every person telling it can't be done. But it can be done ! God says that with Him A L L things are possible ! Not some things, or a few things, or one thing, but all things. Sometimes people get in the way of God's perfect will, but God always has a plan B. The Lord needs workers for the harvest and definitely can use YOU !

We are trying to keep the faith, and pray that we follow God’s heart in all of this.
Some people say that three children we have already is enough.
Some people say that we are not listening to God, or are narrow minded.
Some people suggest other means.
Some people encourage us avidly.
My husband and I have prayed through this from the very beginning.
To know my husband and I, and where we have come from, and see the growth in each other and in our marriage through this decision and the whole entire process, is a confirmation in itself.

Now we are waiting again for a referral !
We have been at this well over a year now, and it will likely be close to 2 by the time we are all done.
Some things are worth working for.
Having 3 kids already, we have plenty to do while we wait.
Bills to pay, rooms to clean, jobs to do, money to raise, prayers to say, and people to love.

There are people we know who have been so supportive and generous during the most difficult of times. .
We have all this time now to really fundraise and alleviate some of the financial stress of adopting three more.
Every single dollar raised really will make a difference in these children's lives.

When we lost our referral, I thought how great that God answered our prayers for the children as they were reunited with their father.
We trusted that God new best for those kids, and will unite us with children who really need a home - our home.

So, I am back praying again for God’s direction and wisdom, and asking for the insight and wisdom as we take this great step of faith once again to walk out on the water.

There is a book which I really love, by John Ortberg - the author, called "If you Want To Walk On Water, You Must Get Out Of The Boat". I encourage you to look for it and read it.

Blessings,

Jennifer Richardson
http://www.blogger.com/www.richardsonstudios.blogspot.com