Faith without deeds is dead....

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.

If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 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. John 1:19-27

I know I keep referring to this scripture, but God keeps reminding me of it. Not only when I read His word, but in music and even secular books. In our culture we choose to look the other way and hide behind the excuse of one person not being able to change the world. Or we let someone else do the dirty work; missionaries, humanitarians, politicians even celebrities. I say that's unacceptable. It doesn't matter who you are. We don't have to be rich,the next best thing or a household name. God wants us to obey HIM. Not save the world.(That's His job!) He wants us to first read His word and then obey what He says. It really is that simple.

Brooke Fraser is a phenomenal musician from New Zealand. She is a part of Hillsong United, a Christian worship band, and also has her own solo stuff. I discovered this song right when God was really speaking to us about the time being NOW to adopt. This song hits me to the core.

"Now that I have seen, I am responsible
Faith without deeds is dead
Now that I have held you in my own arms, I cannot let go 'til you are..."

I haven't physically held an Ethiopian child in my arms yet, or witnessed a mother or father dying from AIDS, or heard the cries of an abandoned baby in a dumpster, but the Lord has placed a burden so heavy on my heart I can no longer be still.

Waiting on the Lord

How cool is God!? Just when frustration and sadness seem to be taking over, God steps in and says "Wait".

Have you ever been so angry that you immediately fly off the handle and attack?! I have! Usually, the words that come out end up being the wrong ones. Our flesh wants us to act on instinct, but the Holy Spirit can intervene and guide us in the way we should go.
Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.
Last week an unfortunate situation happened and I was hurt. But the Lord showed me the truth. The person that I was originally upset with ended up being the person on my side! God kept nudging me to not give into my flesh or my instinct, and as hard as that was, I waited. He knew all along what was going on. Last night I received confirmation of my patience. Although the original offender has not come forward, and might not, I know that God uses ALL things for His glory. He used a "yucky" situation to teach me. I pray that others are open to His teaching, through the good and the bad.

Today starts a new week, a new opportunity to learn. Another week to be patient.

6 years ago today.....

Chris and I were married! Happy Anniversary hunny! In honor of our special day I have decided to post "6 Things I Love About Chris". Enjoy!

1. I love that you love GOD first.
2. I love how our son looks EXACTLY like you. It makes me smile.
3. I love that you know just the right moment to hug me, usually when I need it
most, and I usually start crying like a big idiot.
4. I love that our daughter thinks that you are the funniest guy in the world!
5. I love that you want to have more babies. (I am the most miserable pregnant
woman, and you STILL put up with me!)
6. I love that you get up with the kids in the morning and get the coffee going,
every day. Sometimes that's the best part of my day!

Looking forward to MANY more years of smiles, hugs, laughs, cute kids, and morning coffee! I love you!

Going into battle...

It's hard enough trying to walk the straight and narrow. We all run into bumps in the road and experience discouragement in our Christian walk,right? What happens when another "Christian" is a part of the tearing down, and breaking of spirit? Isn't the church supposed to be our safe haven? Aren't we supposed to lift each other up and not knock each other down?

Being faced with these questions, the Lord brought me to His word in Psalm 139. He is always with us. Even in the darkness He is with us. He knows our past and he knows our future.

Read Exodus 23:23; My angel will go ahead of you and bring you into the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites and Jebusites, and I will wipe them out. Was God actually leading the Israelites into battle?! Yes! He wanted them to fight the good fight before they received their promise from God! Does this still happen today? Is God testing me in a "battle" to see if I do the right thing? I believe that He is.

Many times discouragement comes from the enemy, and in this season of our lives I know that the he is working hard to prevent us from serving our Lord. Even if he has to use other "Christians" to do it. But today, as hard as it is to swallow, I believe that this isn't the enemy, but the Lord preparing me for battle. I must face the fight, head on and allow God to use me in solving a yucky situation.

We are answering a call to adopt a child from Ethiopia and this child, who might not normally have a chance at life, could potentially change the world. We are also being obedient in our roles as parents to Grace and Jack and raising them to know and fear our loving God. I can only pray that our children will be MIGHTY warriors for the Lord. I pray that my example will be a testimony to them. This is just the beginning.

But, you're white.....?

We have already been approached with this issue. "Why is a white family adopting a black child?" "Why would you do that to the child? Aren't they going to feel like an outsider?" "You are going to face some hard realities."

I had a dream last night that I traveled to Africa to finally pick up our child. I was by myself and I walked into an orphanage, and was surrounded by children. I had to walk around and find my child. A woman was sitting on the floor near a window, and under the window was this baby. When I saw the tiny thing I immediately knew that she was mine. She was very small and weak, and the woman told me that she had been abandoned in a trash heap. I picked her up and she turned into an older child laughing and playing with me. Although when I first laid eyes on her she was black, when she came close she was white and I kept thinking, "why is this child white?" "Does God not think I can handle raising a black child in my "white" world?" I was so sad. My dream went on and I continued to play with the child and get used the idea that she was the one I would be bringing home.

So this morning I sat down to do my devotional and it was based on 1 John 3:2.
"We are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him." This is such a reminder to me that no matter what we look like on the outside, we are ALL the same in the eyes of the Lord. We will never really know who we are supposed to be until we meet Him. And when that day comes, we will be just like Him! No matter if you are a rich, white business man; a middle-class asian american; or a poor black orphan from Ethiopia, we are all made in the image of Him. We all will have the same purpose. We put so much worth in what a person looks like,or what a person does for a living. Will we turn away from Jesus on the day we meet Him if He doesn't look like us? I doubt it. We will be overwhelmed to see not only the face of Jesus but the heart of Jesus also. I can't wait!

My dream reminded me of even my own insecurities in the area of race. As the Lord shows me these things, I humbly pray that He is showing others in our life the same. When our child in Ethiopia comes home to us, I pray that she will be a living testimony of grace and mercy.

How many orphans in Ethiopia?

According to UNICEF there are an estimated 6 million orphans in Ethiopia. Their total population is an estimated 70 million. More than 744,000 of these orphans have lost their parents to AIDS. Can you wrap your mind around these numbers? I can't. What does 6 million actually look like?
Ethiopia has the largest HIV/AIDS infected population in the world. Children in Ethiopia die from childhood diseases that could easily be prevented through basic health services.

How can we NOT do something?


Dear Jesus,
I pray today that you give us the strength to make a difference. To come out of our own selfish ways and to actually SEE the reality. Show us what we can actually do. SHOW us the reality Lord. Let it be so real, we can no longer turn our heads the other way. Thank you Lord for your mercy, your forgiveness and your unconditional love. We are undeserving. I praise you in all your holiness for the blessings that you have bestowed on me and my family. Amen.

$2

Sunday our pastor handed out $2 to everyone in our congregation. He told a story of some missionaries that had to start their mission with only $2. They were not able to ask for money along their way, nor let anyone know that they had only $2. They had to trust God to provide for them. They also had to return from their mission with at least $2. Keep in mind that this was a choice for these missionaries, they didn't have to do this, yet they decided to take the challenge. The missionaries also had to tithe 10% of everything that they were given within a 24 hour period. A few of the missionaries had decided to save everything and put the 10% aside, in case some "emergency needs" came up. Of course they always had those "emergency needs". But the group that did as they were told never had needs, the Lord always met them where they were. A place to stay, a meal, even an afternoon tea event, all the necessary things were provided in one way or another.

"All the believers were in one heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possesions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles feet and it was distributed to anyone as he had need." Acts 5:32-37

What TRUST! The Holy Spirit really spoke to me through this. "Trust me" He says. He asks us to open our hearts and give. How often do we "set aside" our tithe, or pay it last, not first, "just in case"? This is an area that God has really revealed Himself to me. How can I ask God for blessings and guidance when I am not even willing to trust Him with what is already His!? He is merciful, holy and loving. He knows what is best for me. "Trust me."

In my reading and research about adoption and specifically Ethiopia, there is such need! It is overwhelming at times. I want to do more than just adopt. That is only one facet of the journey for me. I know that God is igniting a fire in me for orphans, to serve them in a way that right now I cannot see. I pray that He continues to give me a vision to serve and give in a larger capacity than I could ever dream!

Today I am claiming that God is going to make this adoption happen. I know this is just the beginning for us. We have recieved confirmation after confirmation from our wonderful Lord that this adoption is what we are supposed to do. It might be a long road and a hard journey but I am already filled with joy for the day our child comes home to us and the eternal impact it is going to have on us, our children, our family, and our church. Now, what to do with HIS $2??

Something else to chew on, you HAVE to watch this video on YouTube. It is U2 in concert, praising God, and a short speech at the end at the National Prayer breakfast, some pretty powerful stuff.