Say What?...

Have you ever had a "Say What?", moment? Today was one of those days for me. Our family has been going through the RADICAL video series with Dr. David Platt. It has been life changing for all of us. Not to say that we didn't know most of this before, but this is a real, can't close our hearts to the problem, call to get off our couches and do something about it, series. Obviously, I am speaking of our response as Christians to a lost, poor and oppressed world.

Well, with this RADICAL series has come a radical lifestyle change. All of our family is on board, but we don't really know where to start. We decided to start with giving away our wants and just living with our needs, one at a time. Our cable TV is one of those "wants." Not sure if were going to rock our kids worlds by turning off TV or should I say "life source", we thought we would just check and ask some questions. We do believe that the Lord is asking us to give up what we want and sacrifice it all to him, so I called the cable company to see just what we pay to TV. One of our questions was if this was going to affect our bundle savings? We get TV, telephone, and Internet and with having all three, we get a savings. After several transfers I finally got to Rosa, she was a great help, here is why.

If we cut the TV off all together, we would loose $32 in savings. However, it would still save us $51 per month. If we cut down to just the basic cable we would only save $25 per month. Rosa gave me all sorts of scenarios and then asked "What is your purpose in all of this, you just don't want TV any more?" I took a deep breath, I was going to answer one of two ways, truth with detail, or truth without detail. I chose truth with detail. "Rosa, we want to save as much money as we can so that we can give it all to an orphanage", I said. There was a pause, then Rosa answered, "Did you know that there was another tsunami?" Well, I didn't because I don't watch TV, so I answered "No." She began again with, "I have never heard of anyone who was willing to give up something of their own, to give it to someone else who actually needed it, never. I don't even do that." Then she added this, "If it is true that you want to give this away, and I believe it is true, then on behalf of this cable company, we want to give you a savings of $41.13 per month with no adjustments to you or your TV, Internet or phone, just give it to you no strings attached." Now I was silent, "Say what?" Rosa explained, "I can't believe you would actually consider this, so this is our gift to you for 6 months. At the end of the 6 months everything will revert back to normal and you will have to decide if you want to continue with your giving and at that point decide to shut off your TV or not."

Well, as you can imagine, I couldn't believe what Rosa was saying. I just said thank you. Well truth be known, I wanted to ask if I could cut off the TV and get the $41.13 to make $90 something to give away, but didn't, I wasn't going to push it. Rosa said to me before we hung up, "Thank you for giving me a new perspective on life today. This is the way we should live."

I share this with you not to brag on us and our giving up TV, because like I said earlier, we just called to check on it, our flesh wasn't totally willing yet. But I share this with you to brag on God. Here is what I see. To God, the lost, poor, widowed, orphaned and oppressed are VERY important. He is not fooling when He lays down what He expects of us in order to be His disciple. (Luke 14:33) He is serious about our obedience as Christians. He tells us in Revelation to be hot or cold, if we are lukewarm, He will spit us out. I am bragging on a God who showed us today that He was going to provide the money we wanted to give without the sacrifice of really giving it up. He showed us that His word is true, He is so serious about the lost and poor, that He proved it to us today. Almost like saying, "Thiele family, you are toying with the idea of giving up your wants and testing the water, I am just going to show you what I think about it....Here you go! Now you know how important this is to me." He used a complete stranger moved my a heart that was debating, to change her perspective and ours. Praise God. I would like to say we all know what is going to happen in 6 months from now, I am praying that we will be held accountable when the time is near and we will cut of our TV to the glory of God.

The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Matthew 25:40

Whirlwind...

Dear Friends,
The last three weeks have been a whirlwind of emotions and ups and downs. God has been faithful and we are praising him for all the work he has done in our lives.

I would like to ask prayer for two things that have come to pass just yesterday. My dad who raised me, Roger, had surgery on his carotid artery yesterday and needs prayer to keep his blood pressure under control. He goes home today if his vital signs are good. They don’t like the pressure to be up, because it could burst the artery. Praise the Lord that the surgery went well, and no strokes occurred as far as we know. Pray that he will recover quickly and for his overall health. The surgery is a big one so to speak and will go back next month to have another one.

Also my biological dad, Richard, call last night with news of his reoccurring cancer. The Dr. said he had end stage cancer and only has 6 months to live. My dad and step mom live here in AZ, but are planning to move to CA, where Helga will be close to her family. They are treating my dad with an aggressive chemo. But I guess they don’t expect it to work. I have asked my dad bluntly if he knows Jesus, and that He was the only way to heaven, and he certainly agrees. I am praying that he really does, but only Jesus knows, will you join me? I am praying for spiritual healing for both and of course physical healing as well. Also, Helga’s first husband died and I know she is uncertain and scared for what the future holds.

Finally, not that this is about me in any way, but I need prayer. It is hard being the only child when these things take place. There are more siblings, but none come or call to share in the grief and caretaking process. I sat in the hospital alone yesterday and thought to myself, “I don’t think I am going to do this alone next time, it is too much to bear.” I know that I have Jesus, and am not alone and for that I am grateful because without Him I would have never made it this far. However, I think that after caring for my mom for so long, I have post traumatic stress syndrome or something. It awakens something in me that wants to panic, I have it under control but the minute I leave the room, I break. Thankfully my friend Zona assumed that I may be overwhelmed and came and sat with me.
Last night when my other dad called with his news, I was fine almost unemotional and then I lost it completely. All of my parents are either gone, going, or need care. I am so thankful we have eternity to look forward to. I have been learning that none of this hear matters, only what is to come, so I hold fast to that. I just don’t want to do it alone as ridiculous as that sounds. I would love a sister or brother to share the grief with me. It seems that if we both would experience the same thing it would make things easier, it is probably not true. We have had one attack after another for weeks now, will you stand with me in prayer against the enemy? I know that Jesus is the victor and He has already conquered!

Okay, I am just being completely transparent with you my friends. I feel like we need to be that way occasionally so that we really know each other’s needs. For now I am strong, later I may be weak, this is just the way it goes for all of us.

Thank you for being friends, I can truly confide in. You are all so special to my heart.

He Is Able...

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

I must report to you about our sweet babies in Ethiopia. No news with them personally, but there is new news!!! We received a generous donation of $6,000! That means we only need $8,000 and that includes travel!!! God is so good. This couple who donated told us that it was in “direct response” to a video they watched about our responsibility as the rich in this world to give to the poor, widowed, orphaned, lost and oppressed.

The video is well worth the watch! Dr. David Platt is a young pastor in Alabama, with a passion for the lost that we all should desire, knowing that people are dying and going to hell. http://www.vimeo.com/5514321 If you follow this link you will be able to watch David Platt, preach this life changing sermon. He also has a series of 8 sermons that Bryan and I have watched together with our children that I would implore you to watch. This is for all of us, not just for a few!! The series is called RADICAL…you can click on this link and it will take you to site. Start with the first and watch through to the eighth. http://www.brookhills.org/media/series/radical

In these days, we are all so busy and don’t think we have time to do another thing. Please believe me that I know this, but I pray you will make the time. This is about our God, and His heart, not about Bryan or myself. Be prepared to be convicted, maybe a little put off, in tears, challenged and moved into action. This is better than any Hollywood movie out there and it is FREE!!! It also makes a great date night if you are married, and if you are single it is a date with Jesus!

You all have been so wonderful to pray and lift us up!! God hears!!! Please continue to pray for direction, ministry, our children, wisdom and the Lords will!! We love each and every one of you dearly, and are blessed to call you friends.

I wish you could see...

Oh, how I wish you could see my sweet babies!! As I mentioned earlier, We got our referral! I received the originals in the mail yesterday with their pictures attached!! My Word!! They are beautiful. Meskerem is an Ethiopian beauty! She is absolutely gorgeous...beyond words. Eyob...looks like Meskerem, only the boy version, they both have giant, brown eyes. I love Eyob's soft curly hair.Samuel, looks Egyptian and Ethiopian...his skin is so creamy soft. They all look like me, only darker (no kidding), not that I am a beauty, but they do have my same features, you would be surprised.

We are beyond excited to finally have our referrals after such a wait (which was nothing compared to China). I keep looking at their pictures asking God, "How am I supposed to wait patiently now?" I just don't know that it is humanly possible! How badly I want to hug and kiss there sweet little faces. Hold their hands and brush their hair. Ahh....this is love!!

Also, side note...I call these guys "My babies", when indeed they are not!! They are babies to me, but Meskerem is 14 years old, Eyob is 13 years old, and Samuel is 7 years old. Here is the funny part, people have been donating, baby formula, and baby food! Ha ha, I think it is great and it will be used, just not with my babies. I think they may look at their new Mama with ten heads if I offered them pureed turkey and creamed green beans for lunch, followed with a chaser of Simalac! However, I will take all of it with me to the orphanage for the other "babies" whom I am sure could use it and like it for that matter.

I can't wait to post pictures on the Internet for you to feast your eyes upon. Something funny about a mother of 9 (can you believe it) she want so show off her "babies!" Oh, how I wish you could see....

Mighty To Save....

I sit here in my office listening to my sweet china doll, sing, "My Savior, He can move the mountains, my God is mighty to save, He is mighty to save!" She sings sweetly and repeatedly because she doesn't know the rest of the words. My thought is does she need to know the rest? Shouldn't that be what we know that we know. "My Savior is mighty to save?"

When we sing this song in church I can't help but picture the nations. "My Savior is Mighty to save", Africa, China, India. He is "Mighty to save", Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Russia, America, He is "Mighty to save" all of His nations!

If you don't follow my friend Katie's Blog now is the time to follow (read her last two posts). She has reminded me that our Savior desires to "save" the nations, His nations. She reminded me that God didn't create all of these children in His image, so that they could starve to death and die. She has reminded me that God has given us ample so that we can share His goodness with others. She has reminded me that although she can't save all of Uganda by herself, she can, with Gods help, save just one at a time! She has reminded me that Bryan and I can't save Ethiopia all by ourselves, but with Gods help, we can save, just three!

My friends, we have received our referral!!! Meskerem, Eyob and Samuel, will soon be home!! I pray, the Lord will allow us to do more, that it won't stop here.

"My Savior, He can move the mountains, my God is mighty to save, He is mighty to save!"