The Most Amazing "Coincidences"

A few months ago, I met a new girl at Church. We quickly connected when we found out we were both entering International Adoption. You have to know where we live to know this was not a normal thing. We live in a small town of a few thousand people. Our church has about 200 people(max). I don't know anyone locally that has adopted.

In the last few months we have gotten to know each other and have discovered that we both really value and believe the same things: that Motherhood IS the hghest calling!

In this last month, things have been moving forward for Erin, with regard to her adoption. Namely, she was to make a big decision and asked for opinions and advice from friends. I called her last night and told her what I thought and was interested to see that she felt it was confirmation. She had heard the opinions of two friends who she values greatly and felt that my word just confirmed what they had already told her.

But what has been so radical over this last two days is seeing how God has given me a word that has so encouraged her, or I have been given a word that she already got! It is like God has interwoven our adoptions to cause us to support each other!

For instance: yesterday, before I called and gave her my thoughts on her decision (the one she was asking opinions on) I prayed and asked God if He had a word for Erin, as I didn't know if I could advise her from an objective point of view. I read a devotion and thought it sounded relavent to her situation. I then took my next book and prayed over it before opening it. In my mind's eye, I saw JUNE 8. So I opened to it. Now dates don't come to me. This was a first! There was nothing relavent that I could see on June 8 - or the page beside it. Figuring it had been 'nothing' I let it go.

I then called Erin and talked to her and she told me her decision was made. At this point, I gave Erin the verse I had received that morning that I thought related to her situation. Before I could open my mouth I was stunned. I saw the date on the page of the devotion. JUNE 8. It was like when I went looking for another devotion for her, God gave me the word that he had already given me the word in the first devotion!! That was bizarre! And when she heard the devotion: At every turn in the road one can find something that will rob him of his victory and peace of mind, if he permits it.

It was about the problems she was having in her adoption. She could give in and let the enemy win, or she could stand and fight. She had chosen to stand and fight that very night - before I gave her the confirmation.

Then this morning when we spoke I had another word (this is wierd - I have *never* given words to a friend in the last nine years!!!) that I wanted to share with her: "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me." Isaiah 6:8

I had told her that the verse so spoke to me - as being one who felt God's call to 'go' when He called to adopt. She then told me she had received this very word last night in her Bible reading!

This happened 8 or 9 years ago, with a very close friend, who was on a journey that we were on. Our two families were both moving from the city to the country - giving up jobs, homes, secure lifestyles, to make a radical change. People didn't really understand what we were doing.

We had met 2 months before the beginning of those journeys. We held each other up for the next two years as we sold our houses and headed out. We would both receive the identical verse on the same day - more than once. It was like God knew we needed someone else along on these amazing adventures. He wanted us to have someone to share the ups and downs and faith journeys with, and He used His word to encourage us.

Tonight, when we spoke again, as she has now got an amazing situation in her lap of a possible four child adoption, I asked her if she wanted me to see if there was a devotion that spoke to her. Sounds weird. But if you had seen what I have seen, with regard to getting 'leading' verses, over the last three weeks (and in previous journeys) you would understand why I thought it could happen. She is in a place right now where she has not got any meaty devotionals and she is looking for guidance on these major choices. God has so blessed me with amazing words from these books.

She said she would pray and I then opened one of my devotionals. It was called "After Obedience - What?" - as soon as I opened my mouth and told her the title she was floored. It confirmed for her that when she and her husband chose to *stay* here in our province versus take the possible easy route (last nights decision), and let God work out her adoption here, that they did the right thing. They were obedient. The devotion then continued to speak to her about How are you handling the NOW - not the end. Not the dream. How are you while you are on the journey? That is what God wants to see. His end is your now! Meaning: If I can stay in the middle of the turmoil calm and unperplexed, that is the end of the purpose of God.

She is in a very exciting place right now where anyone would /could get very caught up in the emotions of it. It is thrilling to see how God has allowed the two of us to walk each other through our adoptions. Who better to understand and encourage another Christian adoptive family than one that is going through the same process!!

At the end of our chat we discovered that after all the hoops and social workers she has been through to get to where she is now, she is now going to be working with our very own social worker! The social worker that lives 2 1/2 hours away from us!!!! What *I* see this as meaning is when the social worker talks to her about 'support' teams and people and friends, Erin will be able to mention us and that can hopefully help because our social worker (her worker) gave us rave reviews! And given the enormity of the situation (4 kids into a new family) and their young ages it will help to have friends who are supportive.

I LOVE how God has brought the two of us together to walk through this adoption holding each other up. It is so encouraging when you can share a 'word' that *you* like and then find out it truly 'feeds' the other persons situation / spirit at that particular time!! This is truly a gift to each of us!