Teya Grace

Although she has been a part of our family for some time now, our precious daughter is now officially adopted as of Friday, January 9, 2015 and is legally named Teya Grace DeKam. We met Teya just three weeks shy of one year ago and she came home less than two months later. We continue to marvel at how much she has grown and developed during that time – literally blossoming before our eyes.

We have numerous steps to take before everything is finalized and she can re-enter the US, this time as a US citizen, but that process is underway. Tina should also be able to leave this Friday, as scheduled, to be with the boys, while Teya and stay and check off those boxes.

We also continue to be humbled by God’s infinite mercy and provision throughout this next chapter of the story He is writing for our lives. When we woke up on Friday morning, we still didn’t know whether we would be able to get into court. Tina and I spent the morning doing some odds and ends and in prayer and devotions. We later compared notes and shared what we had experienced.

I have been reading through the Old Testament and had come to the chapters in 2 Samuel where David has become king of Israel and Judah, was anointed for the third time, and settles into his home in Jerusalem. David has a plan to build an equally suitable home for God by constructing a great temple for the Ark of the Covenant – a seemingly reasonable, even noble plan. God responds to David through the prophet Nathan, insisting that David’s plans are not His plans, but that if David follows Him, God will carry out an even greater promise for his family.

This obviously caught my attention and I stretched to apply these truths to our humble situation. But as I read David’s response, knowing it was in a very different context, I was struck by how David’s words could be applied directly and literally to our current situation:

“Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And as if this were not enough in your sight, O Sovereign Lord, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant. Is this your usual way of dealing with man, O Sovereign Lord?

“What more can [I] say to you? For you know your servant, O Sovereign Lord. For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and have made it known to your servant.

“How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is none like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears. And who is like your people Israel – the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt? You have established your people Israel as your very own forever, and you, O Lord, have become their God.

“And now, Lord God, keep forever the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised, so that your name will be great forever. Then men will say, ‘The Lord Almighty is God over Israel!’ And the house of your servant [] will be established before you.

“O Lord Almighty, God of Israel, you have revealed this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you.’ So your servant has found courage to offer you this prayer. O Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant. Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, O Sovereign Lord, have spoken, and with your blessing the house of your servant will be blessed forever.”

2 Samuel 7:18-29

Now obviously I am no David, and our promise pales in comparison to the one God was making to send a Messiah from his house, but those words rang so true, even before we knew what was coming later that day. Meanwhile Tina, who has returned to reading Jesus Calling lately, read this passage for Friday morning:

“I am with you and for you. When you decide on a course of action that is in line with My Will, nothing in heaven or on earth can stop you. You may encounter many obstacles as you move toward your goal, but don’t be discouraged – never give up! With My help, you can overcome any obstacle. Do not expect an easy path as you journey hand in hand with Me, but do remember that I, your very-present helper, am omnipotent.

“Much, much stress results from your wanting to make things happen before their times have come. One of the main ways I assert My sovereignty is in the timing of events. If you want to stay close to Me and do things My way, ask Me to show you the path forward moment by moment. Instead of dashing headlong toward your goal, let Me set the pace. Slow down, and enjoy the journey in My Presence.”

Moments later, our phone rang and we were summoned to court where we made oaths to care for Teya for life as our very own child.

Blessed is the house that the Sovereign Lord builds.