Winners vs. Losers...

Last Tuesday while the Ladies from our church were at bible study, some of the men were at our house doing what we do best (other than children) playing cards. Here are a few highlights from the evening with the winners vs. the losers!!

The guys...Greg and Pat...the losers

Bryan and Bret...the winners

The kids had fun too as you can see. Better luck next time guys!!

Boasting in the Lord...

I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear of it and be glad . Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together! Psalm 34:1-3.

I wanted to share with you just how wonderful our God is. And how quick He is to answer when we are asking within His will. (if you have not read the previous post read that one first, then this one will make more sense).

Within a couple of hours of sending our update we received our first $150 donation. A friend decided to forgo the beauty salon and give us what she would have spent that day, $50. Then she and her husband had set aside $100 for her gardener to do some work in their yard and they decided that they would go without that non-essential and give that money to the children. Total $150, Praise God.

That evening we had some friends deliver even more good news. This couple had a great idea as well. At a conference there was a silent auction that was to raise money for Children’s Miracle Network. One of the things to bid for was a 1964 Chrysler Newport car. Our friend called his wife and asked if they should bid on it. The decided to buy it then sell it for our children. He won the bid for $2,100 and just a couple of hours later someone from the same convention came up and asked if he could buy the car from him for $3000! God orchestrated the whole thing, he didn’t even have to look for a buyer. The even greater news is that they didn’t just donate the difference, they decided to donate the WHOLE amount!! That is to God’s glory!! And a special thank you to our friends.

So I said we needed 100 people to donate $150 each or 50 people to donate $300 each. That would reach our goal. The new numbers are 79 to donate $150 OR 39.5 to donate $300. We are getting soo…close.

Just to put a different spin on it, this email goes out to about 175 people or so. This is doable. We have God on our side!! Please don’t think you are not needed because someone else will do it. You are needed!! And furthermore God will bless your obedience. Remember He says try Him in this and he will bless you more than you can receive! Praise Him!!


Last thing. I want to add is, if you struggle in trusting God, He is the God of promises. In His word He says “come to me all who are weary and I will give you rest.” If you need encouragement today in trusting God, a good place to start is by just coming to Him. He can’t lie, He can’t go back on His word. He is holy and perfect in every way. If you don’t already have a relationship with Christ, he is waiting for you to give Him control of your life, that is your first step.
1. Admit your need for forgiveness and peace.
2. Be willing to turn from your sins, believing that Jesus Christ died for you and the cross and rose from the grave.
3. Through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to forgive your sins and be your savior.

His promises are true. God will never let His name be defamed. He will not allow someone to say, “God made a covenant with me, but He has not held up His end of the arrangement.” The Lord’s reputation is tied to His faithfulness in keeping His promises.
Living Water – Brother Yun

Blessings,

Others...

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Have you ever felt as if you had so much to say that you didn’t even know where to begin? That is how I feel today. The Lord has put His word on my heart, yet I don’t know the best way to communicate it with you. So I will start with one work Others. To me this word speaks volumes with no explanation at all. However, I would be remiss not to explain just what this word has come to mean to us. A month ago we had a guest pastor speak at our church and mention that this word, other than Jesus, is the crux of our believing life. All throughout scripture the Lord tells us to take the focus off of ourselves and serve Others. Scripture says to care for the poor, i.e. Others. It says the last shall be first and the first shall be last. We should care for widows and orphans - Others. The Acts church sold their possessions and gave to the poor - Others. Basically, if we would stop serving ourselves and start serving Others we would be blessed beyond imagination. God has designed us to serve Others. When we don’t do just that we are left feeling empty, because serving ourselves never fill us up. Jesus said what we do unto the least of these - Others, we do unto Him, which leads me to this scripture:

Malachi 3:8 - “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of the heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” says the Lord of hosts; “And all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land,” says the Lord of hosts.

This is the one place that the Lord says to try Him. We should not make it habit to test the Creator of the Universe in anything. However, in this one thing -tithes and offerings- He gives us permission and invites us to do just that. His word says that if we do give all and bring it into the storehouse that he will open the windows of the heaven and pour out such blessing that there will not be enough room to receive it. Can you imagine what that would be like?

In other words, what I think scripture points out over and over is that we don’t need to worry about ourselves, what to eat or wear. We shouldn’t even worry about tomorrow; He has taken care of that (Matthew 6:25). But what we should do instead is “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)

My friends, it is never my intention to preach to you, but to encourage you in the word of Christ Jesus. I believe that the Lord has given vision to us to adopt three children from Ethiopia. When He gives vision, He will do whatever it takes to provide all of the funds to bring His children home. However, I also believe that He calls us to give above and beyond what we think that we can. Here is why: in Acts it is recorded that they sold their possessions and gave to the poor. It says that no one among them lacked. All who possessed land or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold and distributed to each as anyone had need. (Acts 4:32-37) I also believe He wants us to step out of our comfort zone and trust that what He says is true. If what God says is true, then when we give our tithes and offerings, He will bless us with more than we can receive!! We know that food and clothing are a part of that, because He specifically says NOT to worry about those things. It may not be a boat or a new car or a bigger house, but we will BE BLESSED ! In fact, He will rebuke the Devourer for our sakes and that is a blessing in itself!!

We have a need. I am not going to call it a huge need, because everything is possible with God. Nothing is too huge for Him. But I believe that He desires to use His people to accomplish His will, and I also believe that He equips His people to do exactly that!! We still need about $15,000 to bring Meskerem, Eyob and Samuel to their forever home. We love and appreciate all of you who have prayed and given to this need! We have the largest support system and are so grateful for all of you. Even in this economy we as Americans are the wealthiest people in the world. If you own just one computer in your home you are among the top 5%. Indeed, $15,000 at first glance looks like a lot, but let me break this down: if 100 people tested and trusted God and gave $150 each, that would complete the task. Or if 50 people gave $300 each, that would complete the task. If you are saying to yourself, “I don’t have any extra money to do this,” my challenge would be to pray and ask God what you could sell (Acts 4) and then what you should give. Or just trust Him to meet your need once you do give! There is a local church here in Phoenix where the pastor asked the congregation to give up their non-essentials for just one week to meet the needs of the poor in another country. The medium-sized church came up with $17,000. Would you consider doing that for these orphans?

It is important to us that you know that we are not above helping ourselves. We have sold our possessions, furniture, things around the house and all of our jewelry including our wedding rings. I am not saying this to brag. It is rather humbling, in fact. We don’t have a retirement account, 401 (k), life insurance or money in savings (other than what we have raised). We have a wholly open-book policy and we welcome any inquiries regarding our personal finances. We are not coming to you asking for help when we have help in our back pocket. We are coming to you, the body of Christ, asking you to partner with us to give these orphans a home. Now we are waiting on the Lord.

This past week someone stopped me at church to ask about our kids. He asked if they KNEW about us. My answer is that they DO KNOW, and I am sure they doubt if we are really coming because this process takes SO LONG. I told him I could imagine that they are sitting around staring at our pictures and the pictures of their brothers and sisters wondering if our promises are true. “Will Mom and Dad really come?” “Will I really have a home with a safe place to sleep, clothes to wear, food to eat?” My friend reminded me that is how we feel at times about Jesus. God are your promises true? Will you really come? Will you really provide all of my needs if I would just trust you?

I believe God is saying YES His promises are true. “Try Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of the heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” says the Lord for hosts; and all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land,” says the Lord of hosts.

Friends, please pray and ask God for Meskerem, Eyob and Samuel. Take the Lord’s challenge and give offerings to the least of these.

With heart - filled blessings,

P is for Princess...

P is for Princess, which is what C~6 wants to be for her birthday party! The other day when I slipped her cute little dress on after a bath, she said, "Now I am a princess mommy". I told her she is ALWAYS a princess.

It has been two years since we were blessed with our sweet daughter. Yesterday was her 4th birthday. I can remember when I could only imagine what it would be like to have another daughter. I never thought that day would come! Now...well a picture is like a thousand words.






The first time we ever laid eyes on our princess.

The car ride back to the hotel.


Yum, fried rice.


Night Night from China

Home at last, C~4 and C~6

My First hair cut, Mommy and Me

Me and my Daddy & Mommy

Big girl bed, no more crib. After all, I am 4 now!

Happy Birthday C~6 we love you SO....much!!

The Gratitude of Giving...

I love that the Lord will take something that is a sacrifice for us and then turn it into something we are thankful for. We should give with gratitude. What are we thankful for??

In 1 Chronices 29, David is preparing the things that he needs to build the temple of the LORD and he willing gives all that he has to this work. Vs. 2 says; Now for the house of my God I have prepared with a my might: gold...silver... bronze... vs. 3 Moreover, because I have set my affection on the house of my God, I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house, my own special treasure of gold and silver.

Then David asks vs. 5; "Who then is willing to consecrate himself this day to the LORD"? Then the leaders of the tribes of Israel, the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the officers over the king's work, offered willingly. ...And whoever had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house of the LORD...Then the people rejoiced, for they had offered willingly, because with a loyal heart they had offered willingly to the LORD; and King David also rejoiced greatly.

For the past four weeks in a row, we have been given unexpected donations from a different person each week. All but one of the people are more acquaintances than friends. For the most part, they are only people I say hi to in passing, and some I have had small conversations with. But..they have heard God's voice and they have given willing to help bring Hope, Jacob and Samuel home. They reminded me of the scripture above because they gave what was precious unto the LORD and they offered it willing. When we give willingly we give with a heart that is thankful because the Lord has provided us the means in which to give!!

After they gave vs. 10 says; Therefore David blessed the LORD before all the assembly; and David said:
"Blessed are You, LORD God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever. Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power and the gory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours....Now therefore, our God, we thank you and praise Your glorious name. But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, and of Your own we have given You....O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build You a house for Your holy name is from Your hand, and is all Your own. I know also, my God that You test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things; and now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here to offer willingly to You.

My heart just sings at this scripture. I know that our country is going through some tough times but what we must remember is, all that we have comes from Jesus. Our abundance or lack there of, everything is His. He asks for us to trust and obey. What if we trusted and obeyed and gave willing to Gods work? What if we trusted God and gave beyond what we thought we could give trusting that the Lord would provide our needs? What if we trusted and obeyed God and denied ourselves worldly pleasures for the sake of Gods kingdom? What if we stopped striving for the American dream and started driving for the Heavenly dream? What if...

We would one day stand before the Lord and He would say;"Well done, good and faithful servant, enter my rest".

"God is looking for people through whom he can do the impossible. What a pity we plan to do only the things we can do by ourselves." A.W. Tozer

Stealing Scripture...

Is there such a thing as stealing scripture?? If so, I know God doesn't mind.

I saw a great post on Beth Moores blog today, so I am stealing it to encourage the readers of my blog, because it encouraged me so much.

Psalms 94:18-19 If I say, "My foot is slipping," Your loyal love, O Lord, supports me. When worries threaten to overwhelm me, Your soothing touch makes me HAPPY."

I love this, because, some times I feel my foot slipping. I slip when I don't trust God for His perfect provisions. I slip when I have road rage and forget myself yelling at a crazy driver (long story, I didn't really rage too much). It slips when I don't put Christ first before my busy day. It slips when I allow anxiety about fundraising for our adoptions over shadow Gods promises. It slips over and over again.

YET...

He is loyal and supports me when my worries threaten to overwhelm me.

His touch does make me so Happy.. How about you??

Sticks and Stones...

C~4 broke her little tiny wrist the Wednesday at the park. She slid down the parallel bars like someone sitting on a stair rail, BUT when she reached the bottom, she fell right on her arm. We waited until the next day and sure enough a "buckle fracture". Once the pain wore off she was all smiles as you can tell from the pictures, a little attention never hurt any one right??

The tiniest arm ever...especially for an 8 year old

The broken bone, just under the growth plate, look hard, and maybe you can find it!!

The spectators...Hey we home school, this was our anatomy lesson for the day, not to mentions first aid!!

Wrapping it up!

The Doc had to squeeze the cast in order to keep it from falling off.

All smiles now!

The signing of the cast!

I love you C~4 get better soon!