Life goes on, but I'm still "stuck" in Africa

Lots to rejoice over this week,and I have been rejoicing. Two friends brought their precious new children home, 2 from Ukraine and 1 from India, all so precious in God's sight and now precious in the sight of a forever mommy and daddy, and sibs! These three children have Down Syndrome. Through their adoptive families God has given NEW LIFE to those children, and I hope, a boost of confidence for others to consider Down Syndrome or other special needs children as well. Another friend's family moved forward to the next step in their paperwork to bring home a new daughter, also a special needs toddler. This sweet one, loved of God, has HIV. I am so thankful that there are families who ask God "WHAT DO YOU ME TO DO LORD?" and when He replies with what many would call a hard answer, maybe "too hard" they have said "YES LORD". I'm thankful that when Eric got the call for his new kidney that his doctor was super picky, and hard as it was to hear, Eric too said "YES LORD" (Oh Eric is the daddy rejoicing over that next step in paperwork for his new daughter!!) There are others. Friends whose child had been caught up in a ridiculous DHS investigation saw the books closed this week on that case. HER sister is celebrating the completion of 27 weeks of pregnancy in this her third pregnancy. Her first two babies were born at near 23-24 weeks and were just not mature enough to be able to keep living as born babies. Her preborn Malachi (Don't you LOVE that name. he he he) is doing well, she's on bed rest but rejoicing that at 27 going on 28, weeks she NEEDS bed rest.
Yet, in all that , I am still "Stuck" on Africa. There is still bickering going on over Matthew, a little less perhaps amidst the sadness, but bickering and a lot of defensive behavior. My prayers have been for the deep hurts that have occured in all the events which led up to Matthew's death. My prayers are in line with the Psalmist and with the words of the song..."Blessed be Yor Name"......"when the darkness closes in Lord, STILL I will say: Blessed be the Name of the Lord, Blessed be Your Name" and I am praying for comfort for those aching hearts beating in the bodies of Matthew's birth mom, his adoptive family who had loved him since last fall, his would've-been-adopted-brother Charles, who is still an orphan in Liberia, the family who was all lined up and prepared to welcome him into their home as a medical visa host family, the agency people who worked to help Matthew.............Any and all of those could grow a root of bitterness, lay blame, be angry, sidestep responsibility, or even lose hope. FORBID IT LORD! The Psalmist David in 2 Samuel 22 (read the whole chapter PLEASE? Its powerful!!!) Anyhow in verse 4 David says "I will call uoon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, so shall I be saved from my enemies"
Our enemies ARE OFTEN heart attitudess like unforgiveness, anger, bitterness, lost hope. they are enemies sent by The enemy, Satan to defeat us and take our eyes off the FACT that OUR GOD REIGNS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! David says later in that 22nd chapter (see I told you it was powerful) in verses 29-37
"For You are a lamp oh Lord , The Lord shall enlighten my darkness. For by You I can run agaisnt a troop: By my God I can leap over a wall. As for God, His way is perfect. The Word of the Lord is proven: He is a shield to all who trust him. For who is God , except the Lord? And Who is a rock, except our God? God is my strength and power, And he makes my way perfect. He makes my feet liek the feet of deer and sets me on high places. He teaches me to make war so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have also given me a shield of Your salvation: Your gentleness has made me great, You enlarged my path under me; so my feet did not slip."
God prepares us, equips us, for war against our enemy/enemies. In some contexts that refers to actual physical enemies, but often David's enemies, like our own, are right from 2 Corinthians 10:4.."strongholds, arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God" And Paul reminds us that our weapons are not carnal. He tells us in Ephesians 6 again that "we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but principalities, rulers of darkness, spiritual hosts of wickedness
in the heavenly places." Paul teaches about putting on the whole armor of God.
When something happens that stirs our human emotions, God wants us to take those emotions and let Him work through them. HE made us and our emotions. The enemy would like nothing better than for us to give in to every thought which would take our eyes off of our God, stir up and add in all kinds of thoughts of losing our faith, doubting God, drawing into our own selves for comfort.
To all whose emotions are raw this week, to all who are rejoicing, to all who are waiting for their answers, Paul has words for us all too. "PEACE TO THE BRETHREN, AND LOVE WITH FAITH, FROM GOD THE FATHER AND THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. GRACE BE WITH ALL THOSE WHO LOVE OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST IN SINCERITY." Eph 6:23
Praying praying praying for God to be glorified in all that happened this week, all over His world, but I'm a bit stuck on Africa. In my prayers is also the deep hope that our Secret/Daniel Elijah, not be the next Matthew. It could happen.