Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Do You Listen When God Speaks to You??

**I can't begin to tell you WHAT a blessing it is to have so many amazing people traveling this crazy journey of life with me...And, yes, some of you I just know through the blog world, and others I've gotten to know in person...but either way...thank you for your prayers, your encouragement, your love and support as we bring another child into our family, and as I TRAVELED across the world recently!! So, the question of the day is: Do you listen when God speaks to you?? I'm continuously blessed by those listening to God speak to them. I like to think i listen a lot of the time..but I'm SURE i'm missing things left and right!! I'm always left with: What does God want me to hear that I'M NOT paying any attention to? Are there ways I could be blessing others and i don't have my heart and ears open enough to even hear God's voice?? So, there have been MANY times recently where I get a "random" text from someone "just at the right time" that states: "I'm praying for you and your family right now" I mean...just at the right moment!! Those are individuals LISTENING TO GOD!! Or it might be a sweet comment, emails sent to me, or even as simple as someone sending me scripture that is speaking to them!! And, I'm so thankful to have them a part of my life!! Well...I thought I'd share a couple of other things that have come my way lately...A sweet, wonderful friend SENT me this TODAY:

"I just had to take a picture of this street sign that I saw recently! I drove by it and thought to myself that I must go back and take a picture for you! I drove by it again this morning and stopped to snap a couple of pics of it! Enjoy! J"

Is that NOT the sweetest thing!! Just another reminder of the "good" people in this world TRYING to lift you up and bring joy to your life!! Some great advice I received from a friend early on was, "Kristi, stay clear of the JOY SUCKERS (those that want to steal your joy) in this world...there are enough good people that want to lift you up and want you to grow to your fullest potential that you can let the JOY SUCKERS go" !! Wow...Isn't that the truth!!! Now these days, I might add to that: "I pray that the Lord brings JOY to the "joy suckers"...but what good advice none the less!!! :)

And, finally....I received this THIS WEEK too:

"Hi Kristi - I opened a book this morning that I haven't looked at in a long time and a copy of this poem I wrote fell out and, this is so strange, but I immediately thought of you and to email it to you. I'm not sure why but I just need to trust God and send this to you. I looked at your blog and notice that you are adopting a baby boy! Congratulations. I pray that all goes well and quickly!! I wrote this poem before we went to pick up K.
God Bless you and your family! C"

Thousands of miles away your heart was drawn to me
Not a name or a face did you see
You listened to God when he said, "I have more for you to love,
Open your heart and receive"

You believed in me before I was
You prayed for me when I was hurting and alone
I needed you to come and hold me, take me home and set me free
Mom and Dad you were asked, and you did

Sometimes I'll ask, "why?", and I won't understand
Help me know that God has a greater plan
You didn't let fear take your heart away from me
You opened your heart and received

You believed in me before I was
You prayed for me when I was hurting and alone
I needed you to come and hold me, take me home and set me free
Mom and Dad you were asked, and you did

Thank you for bringing me home, holding me close and helping me grow
Showing me love - right from wrong, how to trust and how to be strong
You listened to God when he said, "I have more for you to love"
You opened your heart and received me.



***Yes, the poem made me cry!! And, both of these sweet blessings this week reminded me to always stay focused on those that God uses to bring JOY to your life...cause it's easy for us as humans to focus in on the 'negative' but then we'd miss out on all the blessings that are coming our way each and every day!! So, listen to God, stay focused and look for those blessings..and stay away from Joy Suckers !! :)

**thank you sweet friends for ALWAYS blessing my life!! And, I'm headed to the Created to Care Women's Conference thing this weekend in Atlanta...talk about being surrounded by wonderful women that bring you JOY...I can't wait!!! Anyone else going?? Happy Wednesday to you all, kj

26 comments:

  1. I'm going this weekend!! Can't wait!

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  2. Wow! Love that poem! I just wrote 2 posts about listening to God when he speaks to you. We've been listening and we are going to Africa this summer! I think it is amazing what He can say to you when you actually are still enough to listen. And the little ways He creeps into your everyday life to reassure you of what He is trying to tell you is so amazing to me!

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  3. Love how God chooses to love on us thru other people. I can't wait to meet you at the retreat!!

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  4. wow that poem made me cry...so beautiful!

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  5. VERY VERY VERY sweet!!! Love this...and yes the poem made me cry too!!

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  6. I wish I was going to the retreat ... but I don't think I can handle 2 big trips at once since we're leaving next Wednesday to BRING OUR BOY HOME!! :):)

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  7. Really sweet post! And yes, I'm going this weekend! Can't wait to be with so many great moms!

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  8. Wow, love the poem!Thank you for sharing it with us. So excited to meet you at the retreat!!!

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  9. I'm going! Can't wait to meet you!!! It's so funny because several of my friends have asked, "Are you going to get to meet Lucy Lane's mom??" HA! So many of my friends and family have watch LL's gotcha day video since it is what spurred us on to choose Ethiopia to adopt from. So, to them, it's like I'm meeting someone kind of "famous"! If only we could all meet Lucy Lane!

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  10. You have GOT to blow that picture up and frame it in LL's room!

    See you in the ATL!!

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  11. I am so excited for this weekend. It is going to be a blast!
    Blessings,
    Amy

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  12. Great post! My friend Kera and I have been talking about this very subject lately. And not even just about are we "listening" but is what we believe to be heard REALLY what God is wanting us to hear?

    Anyway...LOVE THE POEM AND THE STREET SIGN!!!

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  13. Loved the poem. Yes, I'm going and cannot wait! Friday cannot get here fast enough.

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  14. I'm with Heather...Friday can't get here quick enough! I am so excited to be going to GA and getting the chance to connect with all you "famous" adoptive moms!!!

    See you there!
    Ashley

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  15. What a precious poem! How neat that God put you on her heart and she was not even aware that you were adopting again! That is SO God!

    YES! I am excited for Friday to get here too! See you there! :)

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  16. I will be there!!! Can't wait! Praying that the snow and ice stays away so we can get there!! Love the Lucy Lane sign...PRECIOUS!!!!

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  17. Great post! I am so excited for this weekend!!! Praying for the weather for everyone!!!
    Jenny
    AGCI-India
    new blog-www.buildingbridgestoorphans.com

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  18. So excited for this weekend! Can't wait to see you all there!!!

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  19. So enjoyed that piece about the joy suckers but my heart really melted when you asked the Lord to give joy to the joy suckers. Wow....love that perspective!

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  20. Thanks Kristi. I appreciate you passing along blogs of "older parents". Thanks again for being such an inspiration. I'm praying that Wes is getting stronger every day and looking forward to your new journey of being the mama of six blessings.

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  21. I'm going! Can't wait to meet all of you!

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  22. I'm in the midst of that very question: Am I listening to God? Do I know how to listen to God? What is God trying to teach me? What does God want me to do?.......so thank you for this post! I was reading in Daniel this morning {from the Bible} wondering what kind of lesson is God trying to teach me?? Maybe just a little refresher course from all the Daniel stories I learned as a child?? NOPE!! I then moved on to reading a book I started reading called "One Thousand Gifts" and what is in that very 3rd Chapter? DANIEL and some of the exact chapters and verses I was reading!!! LESSON LEARNED and a little nudge that I needed.....sometimes I think I'm not listening to God but I am....even if I'm being SLAPPED IN THE FACE!!! In a good way! Have fun in the ATL!

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  23. Your words are so true!!! We take Joy for granted...God has been reminding me of that lately!!!

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  24. What a beautiful poem, made me cry too! Thank you for sharing it. It so captures what our family felt/feels about the little one God has for us. What a good reminder to all of us, no matter what phase we are in, that this journey is all about listening to God's voice.

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  25. Hi there - I arrived at your blog from the blog roll of another. I am: http://thisreminds.me We have three older bio daughters and adopted Julia, then age 6, from Russia in 2006. I have a friend interested in Ethiopian adoption. She's being told it takes three years. I can't believe that. Would you mind telling me which was your agency, do you recommend them, how long did it take, how old was your daughter at time of adoption and if my friend wanted to ask you some questions, could she? I realize this all sounds impertinent and rude and I apologize. I just hate to see her walk away from something she feels called to because of misinformation. Becky

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  26. Love everything about this post.
    As always, thanks for sharing.
    Wishing I could say that I would see ya at the retreat.
    Love & Blessings from Hong Kong,
    Kim

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Thank you for your kind words!!