Today I've had the chorus to two songs reverberating through my head:
Twila Paris' God is In Control and Crystal Lewis' People Get Ready Jesus Is Comin'
Before lunch, I received an e-mail at work, informing us that as of now the ABRO program is suspended (the group the kids come through). Last week, a Belarussian girl in CA refused to return home. With her host family's backing, she has retained an immigration attorney, is seeking to extend her visa and obtain political asylum. Chernobyl's Children, the group she came through, has been informed by Belarus that their program will be stopped and they are being cited for kidnapping. This week all NGO (non-government organizations) who have children's programs (which includes ABRO) had a meeting in Minsk, and were informed ALL programs are now suspended, and if they are resumed then orphans 14 or older will not be allowed to come to the states. There are other new stipulations, but we will not be informed of those until later. Needless to say, this one situation is not helping the already deteriorated relations between the US and Belarus.
Along the same line, Belarus strengthened its ties with Russia earlier this spring, appointing Vladimir Putin as a government official in Belarus. With tensions brewing hotter between Georgia and Russia, and now other former Russian republics (like Belarus) being threatened, things do not look good.
And while my mind tries to wrap itself around all the facts, my heart starts throwing out the words, God is in control. We believe that His children will not be forsaken. God is in control. . We will choose to remember and never be shaken. There is no power above or beside Him, we know. God is in control; oh God is in control.
Then I think of all the things currently happening: the mail from Samaritan's Purse yesterday, confirming all the stories we've been hearing of food shortages around the world, and claiming it hasn't been this severe since WWII; the increasing threat of another World War as we continue our fight in the Middle East and now facing increasing problems in northern Europe; the spread of immorality (every bookstore we now enter has a gay and lesbian section, not to mention CA's new ruling about the teaching of such matters in school); and the seemingly large number of natural disasters the last few years. These may be simple swings of the pendulum of time, but a part of me feels more strongly every day that we're rounding the corner for the point in time when we'll hear a trumpet sound...people get ready.
Twila Paris' God is In Control and Crystal Lewis' People Get Ready Jesus Is Comin'
Before lunch, I received an e-mail at work, informing us that as of now the ABRO program is suspended (the group the kids come through). Last week, a Belarussian girl in CA refused to return home. With her host family's backing, she has retained an immigration attorney, is seeking to extend her visa and obtain political asylum. Chernobyl's Children, the group she came through, has been informed by Belarus that their program will be stopped and they are being cited for kidnapping. This week all NGO (non-government organizations) who have children's programs (which includes ABRO) had a meeting in Minsk, and were informed ALL programs are now suspended, and if they are resumed then orphans 14 or older will not be allowed to come to the states. There are other new stipulations, but we will not be informed of those until later. Needless to say, this one situation is not helping the already deteriorated relations between the US and Belarus.
Along the same line, Belarus strengthened its ties with Russia earlier this spring, appointing Vladimir Putin as a government official in Belarus. With tensions brewing hotter between Georgia and Russia, and now other former Russian republics (like Belarus) being threatened, things do not look good.
And while my mind tries to wrap itself around all the facts, my heart starts throwing out the words, God is in control. We believe that His children will not be forsaken. God is in control. . We will choose to remember and never be shaken. There is no power above or beside Him, we know. God is in control; oh God is in control.
Then I think of all the things currently happening: the mail from Samaritan's Purse yesterday, confirming all the stories we've been hearing of food shortages around the world, and claiming it hasn't been this severe since WWII; the increasing threat of another World War as we continue our fight in the Middle East and now facing increasing problems in northern Europe; the spread of immorality (every bookstore we now enter has a gay and lesbian section, not to mention CA's new ruling about the teaching of such matters in school); and the seemingly large number of natural disasters the last few years. These may be simple swings of the pendulum of time, but a part of me feels more strongly every day that we're rounding the corner for the point in time when we'll hear a trumpet sound...people get ready.
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