All Things New

We took Sir Lucas to church with us for the first time last night.  We were prepared to leave immediately if it was overwhelming or if he got bored.  We attend Passion City Church and have amazing worship time at the beginning but I have to say it is loud.  So we didn't know how he would respond.  Well, he was mezmorized.  He LOVED the music.  The speaking portion got a bit long for him, but I would imagine he would not have as much interest in that because he still really doesn't understand the language.  He did great.  But, we thought toward the end that he might have had enough so we began to head out early.  He didn't like that,  because more music came at the end and he wanted to stay for every last note.  It was quite precious actually.

One of the songs we sang is written by Brett Younker and is called "All Things New".  This song touched me last night at several levels.  Here is the youtube version:

lyrics

All Things New
Like the sun Your mercy shines
A brand new day a brighter life
Jesus Your grace restores our life

At the cross the a great exchange
Your righteousness for all our shame
Jesus Your grace restores our lives

You can make all things new
only Your power can raise us
You can make all things new
only Your love can save us
all hope is not lost
cause You make all things new

All our words and broken dreams
We lay them down at Calvary
Savior Your grace restores our lives
When we're weak you make us strong
You lift us up You lead us on
Savior Your grace restores our lives

You can make all things new
Only Your power can raise us
You can make all things new
Only Your love can save us
All hope is not lost
cause You make all things new

You give beauty for our ashes
in a hope that everlasting
The past has been redeemed
Now forever we will sing
You give beauty for our ashes
in a hope that's everlasting
The past has been redeemed
Now forever we will sing

You can make all things new
Only Your power can raise us
You can make all things new
Only Your love can save us
All hope is not lost
all hope is not lost
all hope is not lost
Cause you make all things new

by Brett Younker

This song is so profound to me for several reasons.  Thinking about our boy and our family and all the things God has done to "make all things new"...is probably the most significant part of it.

But, there is a line in it that says "you can make beauty from our ashes"..."you make all things new"

Back in January of 2006 when we began all the paperwork for this adoption, God laid Isaiah 61 on my heart.  And over the many years of waiting and praying and hoping for our adoption, those precious verses continued to return to my heart in a variety of forms.  

Here is Isaiah 61--don't gloss over it if you are going to read this because it is so precious when thinking about His love for us and His healing power in our lives.  It is for ALL of us.  But when I think specifically about adoption and the amazing work He does to orchestrate every detail, I'm blown away.

Pray it with me today, and find a sweet healing in His word.

The Year of the LORD’s Favor

 ¹ The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
   because the LORD has anointed me
   to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
   to proclaim freedom for the captives
   and release from darkness for the prisoners,^[a]
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
   and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
 ³ and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
   instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
   instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
   instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
   a planting of the LORD
   for the display of his splendor. ⁴ They will rebuild the ancient ruins
   and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
   that have been devastated for generations.
⁵ Strangers will shepherd your flocks;
   foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.
⁶ And you will be called priests of the LORD,
   you will be named ministers of our God.
You will feed on the wealth of nations,
   and in their riches you will boast.
 ⁷ Instead of your shame
   you will receive a double portion,
and instead of disgrace
   you will rejoice in your inheritance.
And so you will inherit a double portion in your land,
   and everlasting joy will be yours.
 ⁸ “For I, the LORD, love justice;
   I hate robbery and wrongdoing.
In my faithfulness I will reward my people
   and make an everlasting covenant with them.
⁹ Their descendants will be known among the nations
   and their offspring among the peoples.
All who see them will acknowledge
   that they are a people the LORD has blessed.”
 ¹⁰ I delight greatly in the LORD;
   my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
   and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
   and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
¹¹ For as the soil makes the sprout come up
   and a garden causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness
   and praise spring up before all nations.


He makes All Things New.  Rejoice with me today.  Pray it over your day. Recieve the healing power He has for You!  There is so much to be grateful for and to acknowledge Him for.  (even jetlag)  =)