Did You Know.......

There are allot of great adoption agencies doing great work to bring home sweet children.  We are more than happy with our agency, Children's House International.  They have a blog on their website that has many great and touching posts... I wanted to share these 2 with you but by all means, check them out.  There is a link on the right side of this blog.

I really believe that most people don't know the realities of life for the children who are orphaned. Many live in unfathomable conditions...whether they have a roof over their head or not.... it is unbelievable....and unnecessary. We each have a part to play in their lives...care, sponsorship, adoption, financially or Prayer....but we each must DO our part.  I pray that through our story hearts will be moved to do the part specifically assigned to all those who watch and read!

Again, this is not about guilt...this is real life....these children do exist...  I am burdened for them and so many more... Please consider what your part is in the lives of the orphan...  Ask Him what your role is....

A Christmas Wish 

 

 

A Long Wait....

 

 

Proverbs 24:12a

Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “Look, we didn’t know.”    For God understands all hearts, and he sees you.

 

 

In His Embrace until we all may Dwell in His Tent!

laurie

Ahh......

What a beautiful picture....a picture of God....colorfull....creative.....full of laughter....full of love...

enjoy!

http://vimeo.com/55307071


we can get "caught up" in fear...and in the what if's?....and then just get stuck..and before we know it we are looking back asking....."wait...what?".....

in the meantime they wait....

Deuteronomy 31:8-9

. ⁸ The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

love,
a gas pedal!

Something To Think About....

I don't think I could have put this into words the way dear Linny does..
but please read her blog post...  I totally get where she is coming from...

http://aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/2012/12/from-my-heart.html

laurie

Action and Prayer!

Oh my mind is full of thoughts of this Christmas...and all that God has done to prepare my heart for it....and I want to share those thoughts and blessings from Him...

But for now...some important things to pass along!

Not sure how many have heard... but the Russian Parliament has passed a law that would end inter country adoption with the USA.  In 2 weeks President Putin will decide to either pass this law or veto it.... Please Please Pray for his heart on this!!!

They are doing this in response to a law that the USA passed on dealing with potential violations of human rights by Russians.  I don't know all that has transpired in the past to bring this "stressed" adoption relationship to a head, but I am broken inside to think that governments would use innocent children to play political games and inflict revenge on other countries.  There are way too many children in orphanage care that deserve to have a family! Regardless of what country they live in. 
Below is a link to a letter written by a young man who was adopted at the age of 15 from Russia and came to Dallas to a family who has loved him and given him a chance at life!
Read his letter here and sign the petition !  Please take time to read and sign...and share this with others...and join in the prayer of the faithful body of Christ....the church to pray for this President's heart to be changed....and that God would be glorified through it all!

We are the body...and we are called to action but we are also called to prayer....

Matthew 18:19-20
"I also tell you this:  If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for  you.  For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them."

Unlike Job, (Job16:19-21)we know that our intercessor and friend in Heaven is Jesus! He  himself intercedes for us....and when we are weak and heavy hearted and cannot utter the "right words" the Holy Spirit speaks for us! 

Romans 8:26-27
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God.


In His Embrace,
laurie

Updates.....

It has been a while since I have posted...and not really because I don't have anything to say....we all know there are lots of things we can talk about right?!  Just lots of things happening in our home!

I do want to share some special news with you all..Yesterday, December 18th our precious little ones a half a world away had a birthday!  The boys are now 4! It was hard to imagine what their day was like...  I am pretty sure that it wasn't what it would be if they were here.  But we celebrated them in our hearts all day.  We are thankful for the blessing of them in our hearts and lives and look forward to celebrating with them when they come home!

Also, remember the Both Hands fundraiser?... well things are well underway.  Our 7th and 8th graders at our church have 18 widows that they have begun to care for!  They have been out doing yard work, windows, cleaning and painting. AND with the big snow storm coming we have a group that have committed to shoveling for a few that need help!  It has been a blessing to watch the different ways God is moving in the hearts of these kids. They have really stepped in with both feet! (ha ha no pun intended) If you still want to sponsor the kids you can still do that. 

Contact Lisa Schuenke at devoted2god@ymail.com   or mail checks made out to Both Hands Building a Bridge of Hope to her directly at  
Lisa Schuenke
3223 Blueridge Dr.
Appleton, WI 54914


And our adoption process.......
Most of our paperwork is in the country it needs to be for translation!  We are waiting on our USCIS approval.  (Immigration approval).  We have a fingerprint appointment on January 2, 2013!  Isn't it crazy to think it is almost 2013!!!   After that is done and approved, our agency will send their copy to our boys home country and the papers will be submitted for a court date and an official referral of the boys!  I am not sure what to expect as far as time on that..but I know that God already has it all planned out.  So we rest there!

We ask for your continued prayers for this process but more importantly for the boys! They are probably too young to really understand that they have a family that loves them and is eager and willing to care for and show them the love of the Father!

blessings and peace,
laurie

Praise HIM!! Answered Prayers!!!

Look who has a family!!!  They found her!! Thank you Father who moves mountains!
Please continue to pray for the family to have their waiting short!!!




“…let the righteous be glad!
Let them rejoice before God!
Yes, let them rejoice exceedingly!

Sing to God, sing praises to His name!
Extol Him who rides on the clouds!
By His name the LORD!
And rejoice before Him!

A father of the fatherless,
A defender of widows
Is God in His holy habitation.
God sets the solitary in families…”

The Reality .......

Having a passion for the orphan is not something "new" to my heart.  I can remember as a young girl being moved by the then, limited exposure I had to the crisis of the orphan.  However I did grieve back then, not like I do today. But for sure probably more than most kids my age.  I remember having conversations with my mom about the unfair unjust and the "why" behind those children with extended bellies and flies on their faces and skeleton like bodies.  Why mom, why does it have to be this way?  She did her best to answer my tough questions with age appropriate words.  I remember then a period in my life when I was torn for and trying to advocate for children with special needs.  I always felt that God was going to give me a baby one day with Downs Syndrome.  At that time in  my life I was specifically drawn to children with Progeria and Downs Syndrome.  For those of you who don't know about Progeria ,it is a rare, fatal genetic condition characterized by an appearance of accelerated aging in children.  You can learn more here .  And Downs Syndrome children just captured my heart.  I am fairly certain that while I was a pretty mature thinker at that time, I did not realize how special these children really are.  I did not know then that what God was doing in my heart was going to prepare me for what was to come.  In my mid-late 30s I was a part of a ministry at church for children with special needs.  One little boy (who is so grown up now) who captured my heart was Noah.  Noah taught me allot.  He taught me to see him... .to see that special needs really are just special qualities that God uses to draw us to others.  (We all have allot to learn about appearances and things that make us uncomfortable but I will save that for another time ) One thing that Noah taught me that I carry with me to this day is the ASL sign for "I love YOU".  Every time I saw him and we couldn't speak, we did the sign.  A treasure! He is a treasure!

Now here I am in my LATE 40's and God is blessing me with more children.  These two boys have "special needs". They are diagnosed as having Cerebral Palsy.  I love that God always completes what He starts in us.
Philippians 1:6
....being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

God was planting seeds and placing desires in my heart that are HIS some 30+ years ago.  None of what I am or have that is good is because of me! It is all because of Him! We can all look back at our lives and see places when God planted seeds for our futures.  God has blessed our family with children from my womb and we are thankful for each of them!  He has also called our family to care for Levi and now David and Jonathan.  3 children who were orphans, but are no more. This is all part of Gods plan for us. This is what He whispers into my heart. This is what stretches me in my faith. This is what gives me joy. This is ministry to not only children, but to others as well. This is not always easy. There are many days that melt into the next.  But this is who we are!  We are Gods. We are a family that is responding to what God has placed before us.  AND...this is the reality of why..........

A friend and adoptive mom has given me blessings to share pictures of some of those that wait.  Maybe you follow her blog from my sidebar... But please prepare yourself.  These pictures will make you cry. These pictures will stir your hearts. These pictures will cause permanent change in your brain! This is the first time I have posted pictures of these precious little ones who just need to be loved!  Yes there are medical issues with all of them. Yes they will need intentional parenting. Yes they will be stared at in public. Yes they will require extra work.  BUT what they need we can give!  Anything we can do for them here is better than a life in an orphanage! I know there are people, families out there that God is nudging along.  Mommies who have a heart to care for another child.  Daddies who are mostly willing, but a little scared of the unknown.  PLEASE PLEASE seek God for what He wants you to do!  Not everyone is supposed to adopt.  BUT everyone is supposed to care for the orphans. Whatever that looks like for you..... please please seek God to find out what that is!  Most of all....we can all ~YES all of us~ pray for them.  Copy and print their pictures and post them in your house or in your bible or on the bathroom mirror so that each time you see them you can offer prayers up for their forever families to move forward to come and get them!  I know from personal experience that God will call us to pray for a specific child to be brought home to another family! I have done that!  God hears all of our prayers! 

Please know my heart on this....  I am not saying that we are all called to adoption...but I am asking each of us to seek God for what HE will call us to!  Regardless of what that may look like for your family..... prayer warrior, serving a family that has adopted, foster care, financial support for those adopting, OR to adopt.... don't be afraid to do what He places before you!  Remember, God doesn't call the qualified...He qualifies the called!  Just do what He calls YOU to do!  Whatever it is!

Jeremiah 33:3
Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.

you can read the full post here but here are those calling for their families! and YES the ages listed are their ages....they are not typos!



this is Zoey!  She has cerebral palsy. She is severely malnourished, and weighs less than ten pounds at six years old.
Zoey is in desperate need of parents with selfless motives.
Please email Andrea Roberts with your serious inquiries about adopting Zoey! This darling girl’s parents need to step forward quickly! andrea@reecesrainbow.org


Jeremy, not yet two years old, needs selfless parents. He is waiting and his agency will hold his file until January. Jeremy’s record states that he was born prematurely and has moderate external hydrocephalus and chronic bronchial asthma. Email Nina Thompson about adopting Jeremy: nina.thompson@chiadopt.org


Harvey, age 3, needs selfless parents to take him home from the orphanage, and none have yet come forward! His file was sent back to his government! Please email Andrea Roberts about adopting tiny, malnourished Harvey: andrea@reecesrainbow.org



Owen, age 4, is waiting and has a bleeding disorder that is controlled by medication. He needs selfless parents, but none have come forward! His file was just sent back to his government!
Please email Andrea Roberts about adopting Owen: andrea@reecesrainbow.org



Brandi, age 6, is alive and wants to live! I have seen her on video! Do not write her off as undesirable! For goodness’ sake, her head is shaved and she is ignored in her crib in the orphanage all day long every day and has been all her life! No parents have stepped forward for Brandi! Her file was sent back to her government! She needs selfless parents to give her a chance to respond to love and therapy! Email Andrea Roberts about adopting Brandi: andrea@reecesrainbow.org



Kramer, age 8, needs selfless parents to carry him home and love him into thriving life and health! Like our Tommy, Kramer has cerebral palsy but has not received the therapy that he has so needed! No parents have stepped forward to adopt Kramer! His file was sent back to his government! Please email Andrea Roberts about adopting Kramer: andrea@reecesrainbow.org



Chad, age 9, needs selfless parents to see his potential and say yes to adopting him! Nobody has yet come forward for Chad! His file was sent back to his government, but he has had his file requested again by an agency who chooses files out of compassion and not for any lesser motive! So he is on Reece’s Rainbow once more! Please email Andrea Roberts about adopting Chad   andrea@reecesrainbow.org



Garnet, age 10, tiny, lovely Garnet, waiting! She has not had a family commit to her, so her file was sent back to her government! Please pray for selfless parents to see obstacles come down so they can make that commitment to bring Garnet home! Email Andrea Roberts about adopting Garnet: andrea@reecesrainbow.org


Look what God did!!!
Theodore, age 10, HAS A COMMITTED FAMILY!!!
HALLELUJAH!!!

Thankful for............

Well I am certainly "late" with a Thanksgiving Post.  There are so many things that I could share with regards to what I am thankful for.  But instead I want to share with you the "list" of my sweet little boy, Levi.  I hope to share with you what his "list" means from his heart and the brutal reality of where his thanks come from.

Every year the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving our church has a "Thanksgiving Eve" Service.  It is a great service that we look forward to each year.  We sing songs of praise and worship to our Father and then there is a time for personal sharing.  Usually one person from each family steps up to share what their family is thankful for.  There are some sweet messages of thanks and there are some amazing stories of people being healed physically that bring much emotion and thanksgiving as well. 

We had briefly shared at our dinner table before attending service what each of us was thankful for.  Most years we don't have a family representative because my sweet husband gets too choked up and cannot speak when he gets up there.  I am ok with that... God knows!  But this year Levi was so excited to see that people got to go up there and say thanks to God for things!  He kept asking me "mom, are we going up there?"  "Mom, can I go up there?"  I said "are you sure?"... So I went up there with him and he spoke.

He said, "My name is Levi.  I am thankful God, that He loved me and rescued me.  I am thankful that I don't have to worry about not having enough food to eat anymore.  And I am thankful for that I am safe!"

Now for most people there hearts are touched...they may even cry a few tears. But to this mom it is way beyond that.  You see, for Levi those words are not textbook. Those words are extremely literal!  For a child like Levi being rescued, having enough food, and being safe are a big big deal.  We live every day with expectations that we will have food and be safe.  Some of us have been "rescued" for so long that we can forget what it "feels" like to live needing a rescuer.  Not so for Levi and many other orphans.

The Food..... most of us can see this need.  We see the need for feeding the poor in the media every day.  There is no shortage of those in need of food.  Not just in other countries but in the US as well.  We see it... we donate to local pantries... we give money to help.  All good things! God calls us to share what we have.... to be generous and to care for the orphan and the widow in their time of need. ( James 1:27) We all see the commercials of the children in other countries with extended bellies and bone thing arms and legs from disease and poor nutrition.  But most of us haven't experienced what it is like to go hungry.  I know I whine when I have to fast for lab work..or when I am fasting for prayer.  The truth is we don't know. We don't know what it is like to eat without stopping until the kettle is taken away. We don't understand how any child could "save" food in their cheeks or their pants pockets to take to bed with them so just in case there isn't food tomorrow...they will have some.  We don't get it that children who don't eat 3 meals a day every day will literally "lick" their plates with their tongues to get every last drop. We don't scrounge through week old garbage desperate to find something to fill out bellies.  We don't know what it is like to drink water so dirty you can't see through it just to wet our tongues and lips.  We don't know......
But, Levi does!  Levi knows...

Feeling Safe..... We all have our little "secret fears".  Spiders...crowds...birds... guns... water..etc.  We each have something.  There are other things that we fear... Some of us even have fears of certain people in our lives.  I am so so sorry for anyone to have fears of another.  But I wonder what it would be like to be afraid all of the time!?   Every minute of every day.  Every night when the lights go out. Every morning when a new day dawns.  Every time you go to church. Every time you go to a store. Every time you meet new people. Every time the family you live with leaves... to fear if they will come back or not.  Fear of these people who say they love you...just wondering when they will turn on you...and begin to hurt you, 'cause everyone does!   While I am sensitive to those who have suffered abuse at the hands of other. Most of us just do not know these fears and on a daily basis.... every minute.
But, Levi does! Levi Knows all of these fears.

Being Rescued... Perhaps this is the one that cuts me to the core.  When Levi said he was thankful that God rescued him.  Seriously!  We all know that we have a rescuer in Jesus! He rescues us from our sin and alot of times, from ourselves.  Most of us probably don't know what it is like to have a "superhero" in our lives. One who saved us from a car wreck...or saves us from stepping out in front of a car or moving vehicle.  Maybe someone in your life saved you from making a bad choice in a boy/girl to date.
I don't want to downplay or negate any of those life saving experiences.  But I want to share what it means to Levi. 
For Levi, he really needed a rescuer.  He literally needed to be rescued from his old life. ( anyone else relate to that?) (Colossians 1:13-14)  He has been a victim for most of his life.  From the very beginning he needed to be rescued.  We all need rescuing.  But the difference for Levi and other orphaned children, is that they didn't make those choices.  They didn't do anything to bring on the sin that has shaped their little hearts, minds and bodies.  HE needed rescuing from those who sinned against him!  He has been, and still is in some ways,  in bondage to the sins that others committed against him. HE needed to be rescued.  IN every sense of the word.  He needed to be saved in every sense of the word.  He needed to be "lifted out of the slimy pit and have his feet set on a rock" (Psalm 40:2)in every sense of the words!  He has suffered much in ways you and I could not even imagine. HE needed to be rescued from that!  HE is thankful to be rescued... from that old life of his and to be brought to his new life...here and in Christ!

You see, adoption is salvation. For these children this is their salvation.  In every sense of the word.  This is what I have learned in this past year.  There is so much more to adopting a child than "getting them out of there 'bad circumstances'".  Yes God calls people to adopt. But it doesn't end there. It doesn't end when you get off the plane and unpack the suitcases.  It doesn't end when you stop "cocooning" with them at home.  People...this is 100% about their salvation. This is about God's plan for their lives and ours, and Him working out their salvation.  Like all of us, when we surrender to Christ...we open ourselves up to pain and then healing, to the truth of lies that kept us in bondage, to change... scary change.  We are giving up all that is familiar to us in order to "begin" again with Him and His ways.  We leave the old behind for the new.  We see things that we never saw before... we don't understand things as we did before.  NOTHING seems familiar.... but yet it does...  Giving our lives to Christ sets us up to do things that are not about ourselve...but about something much bigger than we are.  We see this world and this life as "temporary" and a step to what will be eternal! We have to step out and speak up to things that we once felt completely  comfortable with... that now we see harmful.  Adoption is the gospel As we ourselves are adopted into God's family... we adopt these children into our families and God begins to heal and call them.  There is lifetime work and committment to adoption. There are hard days and there are easy days.  BUT... it really isn't any different than our lives with our Heavenly Father! He loves every day...He doesn't leave us as orphans without direction... He walks us through to deliverance and salvation in Him!
Ephesians 1:4-6
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In Love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will, to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.


Everyday there is work to be done. Everyday there is healing taking place. (Philippians 1:6)With the Father leading the charge we are blessed and privileged to watch his salvation and redemption before our very eyes.  We get to see God's love heal him. We get to model God's love to him. We get to be his parents. We get to love him!  We get to enjoy him!  We get to! We get to!  Many days we feel so unworthy... we feel so simple... but God, in His goodness, reminds us that we are who He chose.  We are who He called!  For that We are thankful!

Please pray for all of the orphans in the world.  They each have their own "slimy pit" that they need rescuing from. Each of them suffers. Each of them needs to be rescued. Not only by having a forever family, but each of them needs Jesus' rescuing love, grace and mercy.  They need the rescuing gift of salvation.  They need Jesus!

Thankful to be....
In His Embrace

Preparing Hearts....

Please ponder the messages of these videos.........
The least of these..

this first one is from a new but dear friend I met on this second adoption journey
love it!!

http://childers.org/2012/11/04/whatever-you-do-for-the-least-of-these/


this next one is what was put together for the Both Hands:Building a Bridge of Hope
the serving the orphan and the widow student minitries event at our church



http://vimeo.com/53090285

Please See WHY

Ok...another post already!?!.... 
I couldn't sleep so rather than toss and turn and wake up my 12hour shift working husband I decided to get up!  Honestly..so much is running through my head!  So much...  The blessing of our friends and family who love us...and the children we bring home...the blessing of a job that allows for me to stay home with all of our kids....the wood that keeps our home warm on a day of 20 degree weather....and all that goes with adoption.... I think about the orphan all of the time... I think about God's Word...and what He calls us to do for not only the orphan, but for the widow and for the helpless and for each other!  How can we make that alive in our house? How can we live that out in our lives?  What is our personal role in this big beautiful family, Christ's Church?.... Speak to me Father! Please tell me what I am suppose to do!

I can say that in somewhat of a "big picture" I believe I know what I/we (Roger and Laurie) are suppose to do... we are some of those ordinary, previously unqualified people who God calls to adopt.  The saying goes " God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called".  At the Both Hands fundraiser/service project kickoff on Sunday, we were asked to share a bit of our adoption story.  I can tell you that my husband lost sleep over the thought of speaking to this in front of people!  I tried to encourage him all week.... he kept asking..."why can't you just speak"?.... I said, "because God is telling you to"  Roger is a wise man... he is a deep thinking man...he is a sensitive man.  But like most guys, he would rather keep that "stuff" to himself or share those moments with just me in the quiet of home.  Well last Sunday that was not to be....  God clearly had other plans!  Roger's biggest fear in public speaking, especially with regards to our adoption of Levi and pending adoption of David and Jonathan, was that he would get choked up and not be able to get the words out.  That is exactly what happened.  After a few times of pulling it together after high emotions... I took over.  Not escaping that same depth of emotion.  Roger said afterwards that he couldn't even remember what he said.  Not surprising as we know the Holy Spirit interceded for us in our weakness!  It is moments like this... when we come to the end of ourselves that God shines through the brightest!  God had a message to share that day.  He had people that needed to hear our story, not for us but for them.  There were teenagers there. Parents there.  Young children there.  They all saw the rawness  and vulnerability of a grown up man.  A man who admits... it wasn't what I wanted to do!  But stepped out in obedience and faith to what God had put before him.  He was overcome with the emotions of a father for his son.  He would be the same way for our other boys...and for David and Jonathan.  AS our Father is overcome with love for each of us!

As we move forward in this next adoption journey I am more and more passionate about the plans of the Father for each and every one of the orphans out there!  If you would have told me 6 months ago that I would be adopting twins with special needs... I would not have believed it.  It just wasn't what we thought we would/could do.  Both Roger and I said, well we could do minor correctable conditions...like heart stuff, clef palate...things surgery in our country would resolve.  But what we didn't know was what God was already doing in our lives that would prepare us for this next journey.

See what allot of people don't know is what we have been doing with our Levi.  He is an amazing little boy.  Most people that meet him are amazed at how well adjusted he seems to be... it has been a year after all.  But while on the outside he looks so together...we found out that on the inside...he was a mess.  Last summer he started to share his life with us... in many ways.  In the ways of attachment...in the ways of emotions, in the physical ways of hugs and kisses.  But there was a part of his life that he tried so hard to keep hidden... so hard to keep a secret.  Parts of his life that have been taken from him...that have been unfairly hurtful by people that should have protected him. Parts of his life that would be better off forgotten.  But God is in the business of Redeeming Lives!   In time since then Levi asked Jesus to be his rescuer!  He loves Jesus and God and  wants to know what heaven is like.... he is forever asking me when we will go there!   (I think he really just wants to meet Samson and Jonah!) There have been long hard days! Lots of them..but along with that there have been days and years of his life Redeemed!  His adoption was really his salvation.... He is a brave little boy who will one day I am sure, do great things for the Kingdom!  God has equipped us to parent this little boy with things in us we didn't even know we had! Things that we know are only from Him!

Isaiah 42:6-8
“I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;
I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people
and a light for the Gentiles,
⁷ to open eyes that are blind,
to free captives from prison
and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.

⁸ “I am the Lord; that is my name!
I will not yield my glory to another
or my praise to idols.

So...... this is why.  His life is why.  Why we love those who are hard to love. Why we obey when it seems crazy. Why we take one step at a time when we are too scared to move at all!  Why we love those who can't love us back sometimes.  Really there are so many others like us who are just answering the call that He puts on their lives and hearts.  Just saying yes.  In return, we don't ask why.  We don't need to. We can see the unspoken why in the eyes of those little ones.  We can see the why in the smiles and even in the tears.  To us, it is obvious as to the "why".

Our yes might not be your yes.  We are not all capable or called to adopt...but we can all help others who are called.  I think the most important thing is that you say yes to what or where He is calling you!  And you won't ask why.... when others do!  You will know!

So this is long.... but one last thing!  PLEASE PLEASE take a little time to check out the links to some of the blogs I follow.  There are some amazing stories that are shared.  More families that are working to bring home some of these special ones.... and pray pray pray for them!  Pray for those little lives to be redeemed!  Not only over the oceans...but in our own neighborhoods and back yards!

Always learning to Settle In His Embrace,
laurie

A Little Help From Our Friends!

Our family is blessed to have so many wonderful and supportive friends and family surrounding us.  This call for our family to adopt is so not just about us!  The plans of the Lord are far reaching and so much bigger than we can ever imagine! 

God has placed a united desire to help the orphan in many hearts of those we know and love.  Specifically one special teenage girl with a heart for the Widow and the Orphan.  She has a heart to serve the Father and others.  What started out as an idea for a handful of friends has now  blossomed into an entire youth group event at our church.

David and Jonathan will be the orphans blessed by her obedience to the promptings God put on her heart.  We are humbled by the plans of the Father....and reminded that He is in all of the details.  Please read the information regarding the event.  Our older boys, Sam and Jacob will be participating as well.

Psalm 33:12-15

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.                   From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth- he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.

Dear Friends and Family!               

Along with the junior high student ministries of Appleton Alliance Church, I am excited to introduce to you a ministry event called “Both Hands: Building a Bridge of Hope”.

The mission of “Both Hands” is to serve both the widow and the orphan.  James 1:27 tells us that "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."  The purpose of “Both Hands” is to raise funds for orphans while serving widows through home improvement/service projects.   Projects may include construction, painting, organizing, cleaning, making meals, etc… 

We are asking for your financial support to sponsor our efforts in serving the widow in need.   With your support, over the next few months (with some projects scheduled in the spring due to weather), we will serve the needs of these widows and then take the money we have raised and donate it to a local family (that's us!) adopting two twin orphans from Bulgaria with special needs: two boys that without help are left abandoned and forgotten and labeled a burden to society.

Together we can care for the needs of the widow and the orphan, help to bring hope to the hopeless and change to a world in need.  What a great opportunity to bless those in need this time of year.  For every $25.00 raised, a “hand” with the name of the donor written on it will be placed on a wall representing the bridge of hope being built through helping hands such as yours.

Please consider partnering with us and together we can BE THE CHANGE!

Please email Lisa Schuenke at for more information on sponsoring this event by December 14th:   at devoted2god@ymail.com

Please Pray~

Hi friends!

I know today is a day that many of us will be voting...and for allot of people that has involved much thought and consideration...

I ask today for another consideration..

If and as, you have time please click on the link on the right side of my blog page to The Blessing Of Verity.  On there you will read about a family that needs our prayers!  They are adopting 2 beautiful little girls from Eastern Europe. The girls need attention...medical but physical and emotional as well. The family needs prayers for the girls' adoptions to be expedited in their home country.  They need prayer for the pieces to all come into place to move the process along EXTRA FAST!

Please take a few moments to read the post and then lift them up before the Father!
Even though there is allot to "think" about today with the election.... please make this family a prayer priority!

Praying ..........
laurie

Got Trials?

Greetings!

There are so many things bouncing around in my head that I want to write about...all from different places of my heart...

But just quickly for today I wanted to share some of what I read this morning. It is about times of trials and struggling.  We all have or will face trials in our lives.  All will suffer and some will have a time of suffering along side of family or friends as they walk through some of lifes most hard things. While we cannot know the outcomes of our trials...we can know that we have a Father who is with us.  He loves us with an amazing love and He wants to show us that love... 

I have someone very dear to me that is struggling to do something that is hard.  Something that they cannot even imagine doing successfully.  While it is not a life or death matter, it is very hard and comsuming for them!  In my trying to "encourage" them, I said... it seems to me that this is really a time of stretching and growing for you....and I added the cherry on top saying... It is all to prepare you for what God will call you to do next!  I don't know if they fully embraced what I said... but I know they heard my words and will seek the Father with those thoughts in mind.  

The truth is, that when we are suffering, regardless of the degree, we really are longing for something to take the pain away... We try all kinds of things to "ease" our pain, some only lead to more while others can slow the impact or draw it out... What I have found is that in reality is that what we are desiring and seeking and longing for can only be found in the intimate time of resting at His feet....resting in His presence...  Only that time of seeking shelter and safety In His Embrace... Dwelling In the Tent of the Father.... quietly sitting in our favorite chair... just before the light of day fills the room.. only then can we start to see what it is that will "heal" our pain.  God in the living Word will be that "remedy" or "ease" for us.  But, only if we seek Him...

That said, this is part of what I read today ...

Our capacity for knowing God is enlarged when we are brought by Him into difficult circumstances that cause us to exercise our faith.  So when difficulties block our path, may we thank God that He is taking time to deal with us, and then may we lean heavily on Him.

more...

In order to receive any benefits from our captivity, we must accept the situation and be determined to make the best of it.  Worrying over what we have lost or what has been taken from us will not make things better but only prevent us from improving what remains.  We wil only serve to make the rope  around us tighter if we rebel against it. No calamity will ever bring only evil to us, if we will immediately take it in fervent prayer to God. Even as we take shelter beneath a tree during a downpour of rain, we may unexpectedly find fruit on its branches.  And when we flee to God, taking refuge beneath the shadow of His wing, we will always find more in Him than we have ever seen or known. (love that part!)  Consequently, it is through our trials and afflictions that God gives us fresh revelations of Himself.

This is such great news to me!  I have been in those places... sometimes I think that we really are in "those places" every day... it just depends on your perspective...  if in all things you surrender to His authority then it could.shoud be an everyday occurance...but if we limit our surrender to the seemingly "big things" then we may miss out on an opportunity of another Revelation! 

Take my life and let it be

consecrated Lord to thee

Take my moments and my days

let them flow in ceaseless praise

We are Free!

Yes... I am still here...

It used to be so easy to write the things on my heart and then just shoot them out in an email to friends!  It seems that since I have officially started to blog things are different.  Honestly, I have started this next blog post 3 different times.  And something just would prevent me from finishing it. It may have been the time of day~actually night... and I was just too tired to think clearly.  It could have been that I just couldn't put into words how my heart was feeling or aching.  I have come to see this blog as a "responsibility" not just as a place to "share my heart and life and what God is teaching me"!  I know for the reader out there who is a seasoned blogger it may seem like a "no brainer" but I am guessing that at one time even the most eloquent, disciplined and committed blogger has come to that place of realization.

The idea of me blogging has been on my heart for actually a few years.  It all started when we were in the process of adopting our little boy from Ethiopia.  He has an amazing story and God had allot that He wanted me to share with people.  From where I sit, looking  back I think the whole journey (at least on my end) was to share with all of you, how much God loved me/us through the journey. How much He wanted me to draw closer to Him, not only in the excitement of the journey, but more in the times of waiting, despair, sorrow, confusion, discontent, frustration and feelings of giving up. It was in those times that when I had to explain to everyone how much my heart was breaking I was able to bring Him the glory.  It was in those times that He held me and spoke to me...and reminded me of what I know to  be true.  It was in those times that I grew so much more in love with the Father and Son...and came to a much deeper dependence on Him rather than on my own capabilities.

He is why I am now blogging.

So with that I am seeing a new sense of "purpose".  The reasons why people blog are all different. But for me, the main reason is to share Him with others and bring Him the glory for all that He is doing in so many hearts and places around the world.  I also want to bring awareness to the cause for the orphan!  An awareness that there are some 150 million orphans in the world today!  There are statistics that will blow your mind... (a later post) Things that once you read, hear and see will change you forever...

I also hope that in my sharing others will come to know that they are not alone.  God has a plan for all of us...for each of us.  Maybe in some way, the things that our family goes through can help others along the way.  I believe we are meant to share in each others lives..... in many different ways.  God made us to love and care for one another.  We have seen that love and caring from so many people that we have not even met physically!  My prayer is that we can return blessing on someone else!

So.... I am a bit distracted...I will get back on track.  This morning there are a few things that are on my mind and in my heart. Things that I would love to share..but I don't have time to write a 4 page post. For now...
 
I have been reading in Romans chapter 8. Life in the Spirit. The one thing that I have been "mulling" over the past week is Gods grace. God's plan for me to live in the Spirit.  You see for me, most of my entire life I have lived trying to "perform" well.  Trying to gain the high "attagirls" and words of praise.  My young adult life was spent trying to "make up for" things that I had done in my past. I eventually realized that no matter how hard I tried, once I reached the bar, it would always move up!  Can anyone relate?....  Always always trying to keep everything in order... keep things looking good...keep the kids in order...keep the people happy!  As if!  I gave myself some slack. I let myself off the hook... I knew that my imperfections were the reason I need Christ in the first place.  But what I didn't know in the beginning was that no matter how hard I tried in ALL areas of my life, I couldn't satisfy the "law".  That in fact, the law in itself is weak.  The weakness of the laws lies in the fact that we cannot keep it!  So I have learned that and studied what God says about our "perfect performance" and how we cannot BE perfect but that He SEES us perfect through the work of Jesus on the cross. Jesus is the righteousness that lives in us and frees us from living by the law and instead we live by the spirit!

Romans 4:13
It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith!

There is so much more....read the entire chapter of Romans 4 here!
So while I am reminded that by faith, through His grace I am free from that burden... there are days/times when it is so easy to slip back into that old way of thinking! That the enemy will remind me of how much I don't measure up and how I have failed or will never be what I desire....I know the truth!  I am not bound by my failings and mistakes and sins....  Romans 3:23-24  For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God! and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus!
Oh please Father..would you burn that into my mind and heart!  'Cause when I rest there...I am free!  The perspective I have changes everything!  Even in His goodness and love He knows my weaknesses..and He gently brings this wandering heart and mind back to the place where it will find peace and rest and joy and hope and love and all things HIM.

I hope that today you can live in the freedom of the Spirit in all things.... in the roles you have in your life...and mostly..in your relationship with the one who loves you unconditionally!  God!

Resting,
In His Embrace
laurie

Hey all you Facebookers!!!

Hey a great way to help bring financial blessings to children on Reece's Rainbow!

Information on how to help them get 50K to help 10 children with Downs Syndrome and/or
Special Needs...

follow here   The Blessing of Verity!

Go here to see the ten children who will benefit if Reece’s Rainbow wins the competition:
$50k goes a long way
Go here to VOTE:
Freedom, Family, and a Future for Orphans with Down Syndrome
And friends, anything you could do to pass these two links along would be so appreciated! Thank you!

thanks!!

Part 2 Prayers for the Faithful and Willing

Forgive my "inexperience" with blogging...while I have allot of posts it is because of things I have written and saved...
I wanted to be a part of a special day of prayer and blessing as God would move in the hearts of so many people.  This is linked to another blog at A Place Called Simplicity  You can read more about it there. In that I wasn't quite sure what I was doing..technically anyway.  Still not sure I have it right.. But thankfully God is mighty! I am new to this world as a writer...not so much as a reader.  There will be a post in the next day or so that will be the final to what my last post was all about.  Prayers for the Faithful and Willing.

Prayers For the Faithful and Willing Please read this...from yesterday and todays!
This post is so important...so important to so many!  This post was written to help bring orphans home... Children who have families waiting for them but are for one reason or other, held back by financing... Yes adoption is or can be expensive for us...but not for God.  The families that will benefit from your prayers and prayerful giving are simply willing  and faithful to what God has led their families to do. For some it is that same call...bringing orphaned children home to know the love of the Father through them...for some it is to HELP bring those children home.  Whatever your call from God is in regard to the orphan I just ask that you do one thing.... Pray. Please pray with open hearts and open hands for whatever God will direct you to do. 

I can with all honesty say that regardless of what we have or what it appears that we have, God is so good to us. We are more than blessed. Sometimes when I read others blogs I feel shallow at times...thankful at times.... and confused at times.  I know that God will work out His plan in the lives of those He calls. I believe that. I also know that in "working" things out He calls on us to be humble.  Stepping out in obedience to bring more children into our family and our home and our lives is nothing compared to humbling ourselves to ask for support! I am sure that there are many other families who feel that same way. Partly because we all can tend to try to "do it on our own".  But God doesn't ask us to do it "on our own". He is always with us....and He has built a family that is with us as well.   Blogging Friend Linny says it very beautifully over here.  We are family.....

Hebrews 10:22-25 The Message
So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.

So as God has placed this on my heart I believe there are others who will be hearing Him speak to their hearts as well.  In advance, Thank you for the prayers you will offer on the family's behalf.

peace
laurie

Prayers For the Faithful and Willing

Your Opportunity!
I want to pass on this awesome opportunity for the Body!  YES it is an opportunity!  We are all a part of the body of Christ...the Church...His Church. With that there are blessings that come...and calls to respond to!  He calls us to care for the oprhan and the widow.  He Calls... we are to answer.

Deuteronomy 10:17-19 NLT
 “For the Lord your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, the mighty and awesome God, who shows no partiality and cannot be bribed.  He ensures that orphans and widows receive justice. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing. ¹ So you, too, must show love to foreigners, for you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt."

Psalm 10:17-18 NLT
Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless.
Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them.
 You will bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed,
so mere people can no longer terrify them.

Isaiah 1:16-17 NLT
Wash yourselves and be clean!
Get your sins out of my sight.
Give up your evil ways.
 Learn to do good.
Seek justice.
Help the oppressed.
Defend the cause of orphans.
Fight for the rights of widows.

James 1:27 NLT
Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.


I could go on and on... but  you know..  Now before anyone gets "caught up"...I am not here to say that all... everyone... is called to adopt an orphan... but rather to say... we are all called to CARE for them.  So please keep this in mind as you think on these verses.

So the opportunity is this... as I mentioned before there is a blog that I love to follow... A Place Called Simplicity....and honestly I glean so much from it.  PLEASE read more on this here! There will be a post coming that will specifically name several families that are in the process of adopting.  They will be listed so that we as the Body, can lift them up in prayer but also so that as God leads and impresses on your hearts... you may bless them in their journey.  There is a need... there is a real need.  Please take some time to read about the families and their needs...and prayerfully consider what you can do to help care for the orphan!

In this we too are praying... and below is some questions for those participating in a way to honor God and being good stewards of all that He has blessed each of us with.  We too are answering the call to care for the orphan...these are questions that will be posted and answered on each of the blog links!

1. How many children are you adopting?  We are adopting 2 boys. They are twins and are currently being cared for in an orphanage in Eastern Europe.
2. What names have you chosen and what are their ages? The boys are 3 (they will be 4 in December). We have chosen the names David and Jonathan for them. We are not able to post a picture of them as of yet... but will when it is ok!
3. Are any of the children you are adopting considered "special needs"? Both of the boys have special needs.
4.If yes, specifically what Special Needs? They have a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy.  They have other developmental delays in skills and speech.
5.What country or geographic area are you adopting from?  The boys are in Eastern Europe.  WE are anxious to go meet them!
6. Have you adopted before? We adopted a little boy from Ethiopia last year.  What a blessing and a special little boy he is!
7.How close to travel are you? We have home study approval and are waiting for USCIS approval and waiting for a court date.
8. Do you attend church regularily?  If so, what type of church is it? We attend Appleton Alliance every week.  It is a Christian Missionary and Alliance church. A place we feel at home.
9 Do you tithe with each pay (at least the scriptual standard of 10%) YES we joyfully tithe our 10% and above!
10.Yesterday, did you participate in any way with the day of Praise, Prayer by giving praise on the link and then posting your request? Yes. We have so much to be thankful for! And know the true value of prayer...where two or more are gathered! 
11. How did you hear about the Link up?  We heard from the blog... from Linny.
12. Is there anything, briefly, that you would like to share with our orphan-lovin', God honorin', Jesus worhippin' bloggy friends reading this?  We are more than blessed in our life! We love Jesus and strive to honor God with our lives..in every way!  While we do fall short...as all, we are so thankful for His overflowing mercy and grace in our lives.  We have been brought to this place of adoption and have a desire to see others know this as well! We believe that adoption of the orphan is just what God did for us through His Son Jesus! He made a way!  We want to be the way for these two little boys. We have already seen Gods' redeeming work in our other adopted little one! Praise You Jesus! You have come so that we all may have life abundantly...ALL...and you set the Captives free!

Finally, understanding that each gift received through this "Response Time" has been entrusted generously for our use from our loving Father, we promise, in the unlikely event that we would be unable to or decide not to adopt the children we are advocating for, we promise to return all of the money gifted to us as a result of this link to International Voice of the Orphan so they can, at their discretion, give to other families adopting.

{Please place your initials on the line.}
Yes, I will submit__LH___ No, I am unable to submit to this ________





  

Not Quite Ready...

If you have read my blog post from yesterday you would most likely be looking for a special post today... well due to reasons beyond my (and others) control...the post didn't get completed as planned.  There were some technical issues with the post on A Place Called Simplicity.. so we are waiting... All of us... I will post the link to the families as I get it! 

Here's a nugget to think about...

yesterday I was feeding Levi lunch... after his "red meat and chips", as he calls them, (sloppy joes) I gave him some banana bread.  He said... "mom, I really like banana bread"  I told him..yes me too.  I asked him "did you have banana bread in Ethiopia?"
He very quickly said "No! I haven't ever had it before"  I said, " Do you know who else makes good banana bread?"  He answered "No"  I told him Gramma does!  He said "you mean she makes the bananas and bread?" I said "yes she puts them together and makes banana bread"  He then said " oh she smashes the bananas and smashes the bread" 
I said, "oh no Levi banana bread isn't just mushed up bananas and mushed up bread, banana bread is made with lots of things..like bananas, eggs, butter and flour"  He looked at me really seriously and confused... then he said... "You put flowers in the bread?"

How totally sweet!  I forget how literally he still takes things that we say and talk about!  What a sweet treasure! I will write that one in his book for sure!

There's A Family

Today will be the day I "officially" start my blog... going public as they say.  I have added many emails that have been sent to friends and family as well as the story of Levi's adoption.  There are different subjects....updates...and even just some of my random thoughts and ramblings.  In all of them it is my prayer and hope that you....whoever you are..whatever your circumstances will see our Creator and our Savior.  That He will speak to your heart in a way that is personal and only just for you! I ask for grace in my new endeavor!  I am just an ordinary person.....sharing my heart.
 
One of the reasons I have started to blog is because of family.  There are lots of different definitions of family. There is the family you are bonded with through genetics. There is the "family" in the church. Those who come along side you in joy and sorrows..and in just plain tough times.  There is "family" in some close friendships. The people who know you so well and are there for you like a brother!  So much so that they love you and feel like family to you! 

However, I have come to know another type of family. Over the past few years we have been blessed to be a part of a family that stretches over the whole world.  This family can have the same rhythm of heartbeat as you and live on the completely opposite side of the world. This family can join you on your knees in prayer for minutes or hours to lift you or others up in prayer.  This family shares a heart for the "least of these" that are so precious to our Father.  This family is the family of those caring for the orphan!  Many have adopted or cared for orphans in their home..or they may have supported those who step out in faith following a call from the Father.  Some members in this family are gifted with words and can plead the case of the orphan so fluently that it brings you to tears...and makes your heart leap with joy when one orphaned child is no longer alone!  This is the family that cares for the orphans of this world!  This is a community that stretches from ocean to ocean...from north to south and from east to west. This is family.
Ephesians 3:17-19 NLT
Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him.  Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. 

Being a part of this family is a gift. This isn't a group of people that have some magical training as parents.. or people that have some sort of "status" in their hometown communities... This is a group of humble, willing servants devoted to God and to what He calls them to do!  This is a group of people who are living out God's love in their everyday lives.  This group of people shares God's love with all those they encounter. AND this is a group of people that while they are connected because of Christ... most likely will not ever physically meet each other or sit down for dinner together on this side of Glory!

I am humbled that God would choose our family to care for His children... those we have by our flesh and those who joined differently by God's design for our family.  We have 2 older children. Matthew is married to Bree and they have a beautiful baby girl, Addison. Jessi is older as well and is mom to beautiful baby girl Milli!  Then we have our twin 14yr. old boys Jacob and Sam. And a year ago we adopted 5yr. old Levi from Ethiopia. We are excited to share that we are now adding 2 more precious little boys ~YES more boys! ~ to our family. The boys are 3yrs.old and yes, twins.  They are sweet little ones and they have a diagnosis of CP.  The boys are currently in an orphanage in Eastern Europe and being cared for there.  We cannot share a picture of them yet... but hope to after court if the country allows.

One of the blogs that I enjoy is called A Place Called Simplicity!  Oh a breath of fresh air and a life that speaks to living simply... and at the pace Jesus modeled... peaceful. As well as a family so beautifully designed by Him.  Pleae check them out here.  One of the posts that I love that Linny does is on prayer and fasting.  I am not a "seasoned faster" but I know that God loves and appreciates my heart and willingness to offer this up to Him. 

We know that God has called us to care for His children... we are willing and obediently stepping out in faith to do what He asks of us.
Loving the journey...and those along the way!

thank you Jesus!
I figured it out!

more later.....

Wait...what?

Not sure what is going on with the fonts and backgound colors.... I hope to find out..
I have a few blogs that I follow.  A few ladies who share a passion for the orphan and the Lord!  Please take a moment ot read these blogs here  and here....

Do You Think....

Just praying and thinking this morning on what happens when we don't obey what God is telling us... This might be a really silly or a really obvious question~ Do you think it is possible that we can "loose" an opportunity or blessing along with a specific desire placed in our hearts by God because we dont "obey" Him?

I have been thinking about this for a while now..weeks... If we are seeking the Lord in our lives...and we are wanting to obey him and honor Him with our lives...what happens if we miss or deny an opportunity to serve Him?

I am talking specifically to the things that we have clearly heard Him speak to our hearts that clearly line up with His heart and His character. Things that He puts in and on our heartss that make us stop and think....really think about things. Renewed desires that remind us of things He has done in our lives even as far back as childhood. The dots connect and we start to think... "wow, that makes perfect sense" or "wow He has planned this for my life since I was a child".

Can we knowingly seek Him and then NOT follow..I know we will sin....I know we may want to turn away from some of what God calls us to do... there are times when I am conflicted.. like with my boys.. not wanting to let them go but then wanting to sort of "skip" over these teenage years. What I mean is something that He clearly is putting something before you... the stuff that changes you and your heart in ways you never thought possible. I remember when God first called me to quit my job in ministry and then He put homeschooling on my heart! Trust me I did not want to to that! It was a heart issue for sure!

But what happens when we know God is calling us to do something and we just simply won't do it... we are living in fear of something. Ouch! sorry for the harsh words but I think they are true. I think that if we are truly seeking Him part of hearing Him and growing in Him means doing the hard things...especially when it comes to things that we don't want to talk about or give up. I am sure many of us as Christians can easily "obey" Him in most areas of our lives..and at the same time, deny or ignore others. We just don't want to do what He is calling us to do...It can be in big things and in the little details of life.

So....does God always keep prodding us until we surrender that area of our life...or will He just say "ok you snooze you lose" if we keep trying to ignore it? Will He simply sigh and say (like my Levi) "that makes me sad"... Will He pass judgement on us or...will there be great consequences that even if unseen on the outside, impact our hearts deeply?!?

I know that God loves me and He will never leave me or forsake me. I know that God grants me mercy and grace! But I also know that He is a God who wants to be first in our lives. He wants us to live sold out for Him,not live out our own agendas. I myself don't want to live the rest of my life wondering.......

All of this comes on the heels of a blog posting about some very special precious children in a country far away from us. A post fo those who God has called specifically to care for these special ones. I do not stand in judgement...just in wonder. Not everyone is called to adopt. But I truly believe that there is a family out there for each of these children...He has a plan for them. But I also know the enemy doesn't want them to come to know the love of the Father through a family! The enemy wants these little ones to remain in their beds for life. To be left...What happens when a family or person knows in their hearts they could/should step out to care for one of these children and they don't? I know God already knows..and He will plan accordingly for them... But what happens in that person's heart? What happens to their relationship with God... is it compromised? We live in His mercy and grace. God doesn't leave us...but have we missed a blessing...and another step to living a life completely sold out to Him?

It doesn't have to be just about adoption, missions, or homeschooling. It can be in the everyday things...like for me... how I "deliver" my words to answer the 'repeated questions' of my boys everyday! Or watching a television show that clearly does not honer God. Or how we dress or how we talk with others who are not believers..how we represent ourselves as a follower of Christ! I am starting to repeat myself. I will end saying that we are so blessed to serve a God who loves and gives unconditionally... He freely gives mercy and grace to us. And when we seek Him He will be found!

I am renewed in praying for these children and their families. I know first hand how the enemy can cast doubt and twist things up to make you want to turn and run the other way from what God is calling you to do! I so understand that! Please pray for these little ones to know Him through Us!

Quiet....Listening...

As I sit in the cozy living room all is quiet, ( except the fan on the fireplace...but)

there aren't any feet running around....there aren't any cupboard doors slamming in

the kitchen....there aren't any strange noises or voices coming from my teenage boys

mouths.... it is quiet!  It has been a wonderful time of quiet before the Lord for me

today. A time of conviction, a time of repentence, a time of instruction and a time

of deeper reflection on how He loves me...   All of those gifts that are received during time with the Lord are so precious and so important to me. But today was a day that He knew what I needed most.  He knows that for the most part, I am usually open to hearing His voice telling me where I am falling short or getting off track...but today...today I needed to know how much He loves me...in spite of me!

I was really led to read Psalm 139 today....not my "plan" but I responded...

I honestly did read the whole Psalm but not until I spent a long time reflectin on

the first verse.

Oh Lord, you have examined my heart and

you know everything about me.  NLT

 

that struck me....and stuck me.....  I couldn't get past those words.... 

I kept trying to keep reading but I would just bounce back up to those few

but so valuable words.  You see for me today..if I could give you a visual..

it would be like this...

you are looking at at picture of a tree (lets say the Vine)... and you can see

the part above the ground...all that is visible...and you can see what is below.

The part where the roots are growing and spreading out...

Today... He gave me the picture of this.. while my visible parts can sometimes

be beautiful and colorful and full of life there are times when they can appear to

be a bit wilted...dried... and even needing a pruning...

BUT..what is happening under that Vine is nothing in comparison.. He showed

me that HE was deepening His roots in my life! He was spreading them out

farther and deeper...  IN spite of what my outside looked like...tired and wilting

and needing to be refreshed.... His roots are well established in me...and that

each time we are in a place of needed refreshment...He is going deeper in us

and if we just hang in there He will refresh our hearts and our "above ground"

branches.....

I can tell you that it brought tears to my eyes...and a comfort to my heart!  A

truly comforting time of the Father's love for me... as if He was physically holding

me and susshing me... 

like all of you...we give and give and give everyday... we do get tired..we can get

"off" in our daily schedules and routines..and you cannot possibly plan every

second of every minute of every day!  For me the past few days have been like

that...just trying in my humaness to plan it all out...to account for everyone and

everyone's needs..... and ultimately..I cannot meet all of those expectations...

it was there in my tiredness that the enemy began the attack.... oh not on my

planning and my tasks..but on my children....causing hearts to be rebellious

and causing words of disrespect..and anger....

It is in my response where my sin lies... and for that I am always so broken and

so reflective as to how/what can I do better...but only with His strength..

 

The attacker doesnt really "stop" he just changes directions and his "game plan"

 

I ask for your prayers today for our family and our children... I am seeing first

hand of how the enemy will sort of run rampant in an attempt to disrupt and destroy

our family.  And we are not alone.... you see it everywhere!

 

I also ask for prayer for our day today... we have to get children to different

places and head down to Milwaukee for our first home study meeting... it will

be a hectic morning...

peace and love!

laurie
 

Every Day is a Gift!