VICTORY

Well it is 11:49 p.m. and I am at war. You might think well how are you at war if you are on the computer. Let me just tell you how! I have had an issue with fear my entire life. I mean a BIG issue with fear. I have let the enemy push me around and every time he has said Boo I have jumped but NOT ANYMORE!

I am claiming Psalms 91 here it is personalized for my family.

Psalm 91
My Refuge and My Fortress
1(The Roe Family) who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.2(The Roe Family) will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."
3For he will deliver (The Roe Family) from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.4He will cover (The Roe Family) with his pinions, and under his wings (The Roe Family) will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.5 (The Roe Family) will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
7A thousand may fall at (The Roe Family’s) side, ten thousand at (The Roe Family’s) right hand, but it will not come near (The Roe Family).8(The Roe Family) will only look with (our) eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.
9Because (The Roe Family) have made the LORD (The Roe Family’s) dwelling place— the Most High, who is (The Roe Family) refuge10 no evil shall be allowed to befall (The Roe Family), no plague come near (The Roe Family’s) tent (or house).
11 For he will command his angels concerning (The Roe Family) to guard (The Roe Family) in all (The Roe Family’s) ways.12On their hands they will bear (The Roe Family) up, lest (The Roe Family) strike (‘s) (their) foot against a stone.13(The Roe Family) will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent (The Roe Family) will trample underfoot.
14"Because (The Roe Family) holds fast to me in love, I will deliver (The Roe Family); I will protect (The Roe Family), because (The Roe Family) knows my name.15When (The Roe Family) calls to me, I will answer (The Roe Family); I will be with (The Roe Family) in trouble; I will rescue (The Roe Family) and honor (The Roe Family).16With long life I will satisfy (The Roe Family) and show (The Roe Family) my salvation."

With all of these promises I have no reason to worry. The devil is mad. He is mad that my family loves GOD and believes in JESUS! But Greater is He that is within me then he that is in the world. This home belongs to CHRIST and HE IS ALL WE NEED.

The enemy has tried several scare tactics already tonight...fear, terror, shame, a bug...eww...but no matter what he tries I know that my VICTORY was won by Jesus way back on Calvary...the hard part for a weak human is walking it out but, when I am weak HE (God) is strong so I am not depending on my strength to get me through this I know the strength of MY SAVIOR is enough to win this war! God Bless You All!

BTW

I'm not finished. I am not finished on so many levels. I am not finished growing as God's child. I am not finished being an awesome wife. I am not finished being a mother...I want more kids. God has so many children out there that need a mom and dad and we have more love and more life left in us. I am not finished being a student, I will get my degree...no turning back. I am not finished in my finances. Things are hard right now...I have been looking for a job forever but one is on the way. There will be a time when this will seem like a distant memory...just a time that God wanted to show his strength in my weakness. But the main thing that I just want everyone to know is I'm not finished and I believe God's word in Philippians 1:6 the bible says: God began doing a good work in you, and I am sure he will continue it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again (NCV). He is the one who has begun the "good work" in me and I know that he will...not maybe or could...but will finish it!

Restless but Waiting.

Have you ever felt God moving way down in a place you didn't even know existed inside you? Have you ever heard him whisper something so quietly in your spirit that it's almost indiscernible? That is what I am going through now. Change is coming. I feel it, I hear it, I taste it and I smell it. The only thing left is to see it. Just like you can hear a train whistle from miles away and feel the track rumble under your feet when it's still outta sight...I know God's on his way. I trust you God. Even though I don't know where you're leading. I am yours, my marriage is yours, my children are yours (thanks for letting me borrow them they are one of my favorite parts of this life), my job (or lack thereof) is yours, my house is yours, my car is yours, it's all yours. I am feeling restless now...I truly believe that this restlessness doesn't come from discontentment but from my spirit being stirred by your holy hands. God I don't want to be led away by counterfeit opportunities please give me and Mitchell discernment during this time. Give us direction Dear Father....and make it plain so that we can understand and do your will.

While I'm Waiting

I love the song by John Waller "While I'm Waiting". I heard it a few months ago when my friend Kesha played it before a Sunday School lesson. The last few months I have been stuck in a time of waiting. Basically I need a J-O-B. When I say need I don't mean I would like to have or we could use the money...I mean I am in need of a job. We are really struggling. I know that the same thing can be said by people all over this country right now. Everyone is looking for a job it seems. I have tried to be patient. I have submitted applications and resumes left and right. But I am just not getting call backs. I don't really understand what is going on. Except that God has the perfect job for me and I have not crossed paths with it yet. So I continue to wait. I am trying to take every step in obedience. I am trying not to get discouraged. I am trying not to believe the lies of the enemy that God has forgotten me and my needs. I am trying not to think about what we will do to pay the bills and buy the groceries in the coming weeks. I am trying to just wait patiently, do my part and let God do his. I fail often. I have moments when I just burst into tears out of frustration. I have moments when I can feel the breath of God on me and I know that he is for me and not against me. So I choose to continue waiting...taking every step in obedience...while I'm waiting. Please Lord act soon...but if not...send me comfort...While I'm Waiting!

Home Sweet Home

So, I am home now. I came home almost a full week early. I just missed my kids so very much. Tara finally looked at me Saturday night and I started crying and said I miss my kids and I really want to go home...she said "Sherri I completely understand. I don't blame you one bit. Go home to your kids. I'll be fine" She is so understanding. I think now that she knows a mothers love she was wondering how she would ever be without Nora and survive. We told the kids they were coming to the airport to pick-up a bag I had sent home for them. They are young enough that they didn't know any better. On the way to the airport Mitchell said they were chatting a lot but then when they got to the airport and saw a plane landing they got quite and when Mitchell asked what was wrong Sarah said "I wish Mommy was coming home today" and Colton agreed with her. When they walked in the luggage claim area Sarah spotted me and leaned over to her dad and said "I think I see my mom." he said "well go to her if you see her." she came running into my arms...Colton stood there a little confused and then eventually came running to me also. At first they looked a little sad I asked why and they said are you going back? I let them know I was home to stay and then the biggest smile came on both of their faces and never left. Colton was precious he hugged me and cried and said "Thank you for coming back to me Mommy" I cried too! I have been very jet lagged....I traveled from 8 am our time Saturday morning till 9 pm our time Sunday night. So I have been sleeping a lot this week. Tara and Billy will be back Saturday afternoon pray for them as they travel. As soon as I got home I went to my sisters to hold my new niece. Bella Kate Bain is so beautiful and I love kissing on her and just spoiling her. Thanks for all of your prayers. I have decided to keep this blog up so I can post here for those of you without Myspace. I just posted all of my blogs from China on here the dates are a little out of wack...email me if you can't figure it out. God Bless You All!

First Day in China

Posted on Sunday September 14th

Ni Hao ya'll! We are in our motel room in China! Thank God! The day started off just fine, it was hard to say goodbye to the kids but I expected that. Then my dad suprised me by being at Tara's when we met there to leave. That meant alot to me. So we go to the airport in Knoxville and when I am going through security my dad calls to tell me my sister's water broke and they were on the way to the hospital. I am very sad that I missed it but very happy to say little Bella Kate Bain was born Saturday around noon and she is a beautiful girl!! I will get some pictures up here as soon as someone emails me some.
We left Knoxville on Saturday at 11:10 and arrived in Beijing at 10 p.m. Sunday night Beijing time. We are exahusted. I am trying to upload a few pic's now. God bless you all! I'm having trouble getting my Yahoo mail up, I'm gonna keep trying but just in case Sarah, Colton, Cassie, and Mitchell I love you all very much and I miss you like Crazy!!!
Love,
Sherri

2nd day in China

Posted on Monday September 15th

First of all let me just explain the title...I'm sick of rice already, we found french fries, and on the way to the fries we almost lost our lives in a game of hit the two fat white girls and the skinny white man that looked a lot like an old school game of Frogger. Ok, ok getting ahead of myself. We slept great last night and woke up about 6:30 a.m. we got up packed our stuff and went to breakfast...well, something that was supposed to be breakfast. It was a breakfast bar and there were boiled eggs, RICE (fried rice ewww), baked beans, fried rice and noodles, a salad bar, undercooked bacon, ham, sausage, omelets, the only things I found worth eating was some croissants with jelly and a couple of pieces of brownish bacon. We met up with Leslie and Charles Erwin they are a couple and are traveling with his mom Cindy to adopt a 3 year old little girl from the same orphanage Nora is in. We all introduced ourselves then we went to the airport and flew Kunming.
The airplane was something left over from the cold war and we felt like we rode on our side the whole way here. Leslie said she almost punched the ceiling to get the oxygen mask to fall because it was hotter then who dunnit...but we lived and Kuming is so beautiful the weather is so pretty. It's called the Spring City because it is always so mild.
Our guide Jerry met us at the airport; he is so nice and helpful. Thank God for Jerry. We have eaten nothing but rice & the whole time by that I mean, rice and chicken, rice and beef, rice and rice and rice and rice. Leslie, Charles and Cindy felt the same way so we decided to walk to find some American food...on the way Charles says to go and we just followed, then he screamed RUN...and the cars started coming, and I don't mean swerving around us or stopping I mean they were aiming for us...we ran as best two chunky girls with broke backs can and barely missed elimination from the Frogger game of life.
We did find a KFC praise God, I've never been so glad to eat dark meat chicken and drink Pepsi. The fries were heavenly so at least we are nourished for another day. We are back in the room now. We get to go get Nora at 8:30 in the morning. So right as you all go to bed we will be seeing her face. Pray for strength for all of us. Pray for Tara and Billy we all got teary eyed when we came in and saw her crib. Also pray for my ear. I think the last 4 flights have done it in and with the night air here...it's hurting pretty bad...I am going to take some Tylenol and get started on the antibiotic I brought.
One last thing....Thank you God...for your goodness, mercy, grace, long-suffering, kindness, and everything else that you continue to pour over my head while I am on this journey. I know that we came to get Nora but I have also found something that I have been missing for a long time...the eyes of Christ...seeing people as He sees them...we have a lot of work to do brother's and sisters...in Cleveland and in Kunming and everywhere in between. I love you all!!!