June 19th - Court Date
Okay, folks, it's time to pray. This Friday, Tamara will go to court to declare, again, that she wants to refuse all guardianship of Katya which opens the door for us to be able to adopt her. 
If you're unfamiliar with the court nightmare, here's the timeline:
March 31 - When we first found out about the glitch in which the court checked a box assigning Tamara guardianship of Katya rather than approving her refusal of guardianship.
April 6 - Tamara submitted a petition to the court the guardianship form.
April 11 - We find out the date for Tamara's first court date.
May 12 - Bad news. We find out that the judge wants two more documents from Tamara and a new court date is assigned - June 19th.
So, here we are. From all counsel we had received, May 12th shouldn't have been a problem. It simply should have been Tamara showing up in court and re-signing a document. No one has been able to figure out why the judge wants these two documents, but he does.
This week, our family will be in very intentional prayer for this court date - prayer that it goes smoothly and moves us one step closer to being able to bring Katya home.
Perhaps this is the "why." Perhaps it's more about stirring our hearts for prayer than about the judge wanting two documents. My mother's heart rails against this possibility because these delays mean a longer time in the orphanage for Katya. My mind asks, "How can it be good for her to be there longer?" Yet, when it comes down to it, I trust God's plan more than my own. I trust that He truly is Father to the fatherless, that He is loves Katya more than I ever will, and He holds every bit of power necessary to execute His plan. I'm hopeful that we will see the goodness of His plan as it unfolds, and yet even if we do not, I will trust in His goodness nonetheless.
Some might say, "Why pray? If God has a plan that He is going to bring to pass, why pray?"
Many have sought to answer this question and a quick Google search can render you plenty of reading material. My simple answer and one that gets me to my figurative knees again and again is this:
God loves us to partner with Him to accomplish His purposes.
As I pray, I get to work WITH the King of kings, Lord of Lords, Author of creation, the Alpha and Omega, the Living God! Sometimes, as I pray, God brings understanding to my heart of His plans which are different than my initial prayers, and my prayers shift. Sometimes, as I pray, I am convicted of the selfishness of my prayers that desire to accomplish what would be best for me. I am moved, touched, humbled, and brought back into fellowship with God, and my prayers shift. Sometimes, as I pray, I receive spirtual encouragement. "You're on the right track. Keep praying. That's good!" Oh how I love this!
If you're wondering about this idea of partnering with God to move forward His plans and purposes in the world, check out these stories.
In Genesis 20, Abraham lies about his wife Sarah declaring that she is his sister. King Abimilech brings Sarah into his harem, but then curses come upon his court, particulary upon his wives and concubines. God, in His grace, warns Abimilech, but also tells him that "Abraham is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live." Abraham, who lied all over the place, intercedes for Abimilech and God reverses the curse and brings health to Abimilech's wives opening their wombs.
In Job 42, after all the agony Job has experienced with the loss of his property, the death of his children, the judgment of his friends, and the apparent departure of God from his life, God reveals Himself to Job powerfully and lovingly. And then, He reveals His plan to partner with Job as a means of mercy in his friends' lives. "My servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly ... and the LORD accepted Job's prayer." Job partners with God in prayer giving Job the joy of seeing his prayers be the means that God uses to accomplish His purposes.
Prayers are PART of God's plan, not an intrusion in them. God delights for His people to seek Him in prayer. He knows the plans He has for us and He delights to use our prayers as a means of accomplishing them.
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you," declares the Lord, "and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile. "
This week, will you join our family in prayer for the June 19th court date? If you have a word of encouragement, a sensing of God's purposes, or a passage of Scripture, please leave it in the "Comments." By praying, we are not seeking to change God's plans, but to partner with Him as He works in the "now" as a demonstration of His ultimate work of restoration in the "not yet."