Author: Katie Ganshert

I write Christian romance and my debut novel, Wildflowers from Winter, releases in May, 2012 through Waterbrook Press (a division of Random House).

Friday 3 C’s

Posted on by Katie Ganshert

B-man’s first time wading in the creek 

Cares:
Our adoption agency hosted a webinar last night after their most recent trip to the Congo. 

One of our biggest concerns about adoption has been corruption, which sadly, is a very real problem in the international adoption world. Especially Africa. We’ve been on our knees about it. We’ve researched like crazy. We even swallowed a $500 application fee early in the process when we started feeling uneasy about the first agency we pursued.

We already felt confident in our agency, but last night’s webinar gave us even more peace and confidence. They are committed to the children and they are committed to the country. Their first priority is not the families who are adopting, it’s the orphans in the DRC. This is a great thing. 

But with the greatness brings an expanding time frame. Due diligence takes time. Investigating each orphanage and ensuring that each child is, in fact, a true orphan, takes time. So while I’m ready to be a mother to one of these precious little ones RIGHT NOW, we’re still looking at a year and a half.

Hopefully, we’ll get a referral sometime this fall. From there, it’ll be about ten months before court. And another 3-4 until travel. 

Waiting is not easy. But it’s worth it.

Concerns:
The conditions in these orphanages are heartbreaking. It’s not because the caretakers don’t care. It’s simply because the resources aren’t there. Kids are starving and kids are sick and kids are dying. 

Which makes me think of this video (Warning….don’t watch unless you’re prepared to be very convicted. The hard stuff starts at the 1:40 mark. My husband agrees. He would claw through a brick wall with his bare hands too).

Celebrations:
It’s Friday. Jesus is my savior. He’s set me free. I love writing. I’m almost done with my revisions on Wishing on Willows. I love my family and my son and my dog. God is holding our hands as we travel this adoption journey.  

I received some very fun emails this week from readers. Thank you, dear readers! For taking the time to brighten my day in such an encouraging way.

Let’s Talk: What are your cares, concerns, and celebrations this week?

Blaming God When Bad Things Happen

Posted on by Katie Ganshert

I can’t even begin to fathom the grief and the horror the people living in Aurora, Colorado have experienced this past week. 

I only know people are hurting. People are devastated. People are angry. And my heart breaks for what they are enduring.

A woman named Marie was there, in theater nine. With her two teenage daughters. She heard the gunshots and the screaming and the terror. She covered her daughters and when the firing slowed, she took her family and ran for the exit.

The next day, she wrote a blog post entitled So You Still Think God is a Merciful God? 

Her answer: Yes. 

God is still merciful and good.

I resonated with this post, because I have loved ones in my life who struggle with this concept. Oh man, do they struggle.

Something bad or senseless happens and they want nothing to do with God.

And I can’t help but think….

How quick we all are to spit on the hand that’s offering to pull us out of the pit, as if that hand is the one that pushed us there. 

I’m not sure any of us realize what a horrifying, terrifying place this world would be if God removed His grace. 

He isn’t the enemy. 

God doesn’t dig these dark, desperate holes. He’s not the one pushing us in them.

The brokenness of this world, the brokenness inside every human heart – this is what makes the pit. These are what push us in.

And God sees His beloved creation desperately trying to claw their way out, incapable of escaping on their own. So in His infinite mercy, He reaches out His hand, in the form of Jesus Christ, and becomes the rescue we can’t be for ourselves.

Jesus doesn’t promise safety or health or prosperity in this world. Any Christian who tells you that hasn’t read the Bible. 

But He does promise hope and this is a hope that brokenness and evil and destruction cannot touch. 

One day, death and the powers of darkness will be defeated and all things will be made new.

Until then…

I pray for healing for those who are hurting.

I pray that God can take the senseless hate in the world and bring beauty from the pain.

I pray that God can use what the enemy intends for destruction to glorify and magnify His name.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.                    -Ephesians 3:20-21

Let’s Talk: Do you struggle with the concept of a loving God when bad things happen?