Church in China

This morning, our family worshipped at Guangzhou International Fellowship Church. Chinese citizens are greatly restricted on when and where they can worship so this particular church is for foreign passport holders only.  As our family entered into the sanctuary, we were warmly greeted by brothers and sisters of many colors and nationalities.  Awesome....just like heaven.

As the music began, I was taken back to the last time I attended this church.  It was six months ago when I was in China on an adoption trip that ended in heartbreak and despair.  At that time, I was weary.  So weary.  And honestly, I didn't feel much like worshipping.

However, while alone in my hotel room, the Lord in His great mercy delivered a verse to me that became the foundation from which I would build the remainder of my time in China.  It comes from the book of Habakkuk.

Though the fig tree does not bud

and there are no grapes on the vines,

though the olive crop fails

and the fields produce no food,

I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.   Habakkuk 3: 17,18

And so, from this verse, I decided that I would CHOOSE praise, and I would CHOOSE worship. Because let's face it, no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in, the Lord is worthy of our praise.  And, even in the midst of our grief and despair, He is so worthy of worship.  

So......fast forward to today. I sat in the same church surrounded by my loved ones including my new son Ezekiel whom I happen to think was perfectly meant for our family.  As I glance down the aisle at my family of five, my heart is full and I'm reminded of yet another verse.

1There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under the heavens:

time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance....   Ecclesiastes 3:1-4

Everything has a season, and today is my season to heal.  I have weathered a season of mourning, but today is my season to laugh.

When the time came, we accompanied our three kids to children's church where the class was learning the sign language to a special song to perform at the upcoming Christmas service.   The song of choice was one of my favorites, Silent Night.  As the teacher began singing and signing, Zeke's eyes lit up and he began to imitate the sign language to the best of his two year old ability.  And then, we came to the line "Jesus, Lord at Thy birth", and my son Ezekiel took his tiny, chubby finger and pointed to the palm of his other hand to perfectly make the sign for JESUS! The tears began to flow!

Yes, my son, that is JESUS.  He is our Savior, our healer, and the One who walks with us through the many seasons of life.  There is a time for everything, and today is my time to dance!