Sunday, September 30, 2012

Sunday Scripture

1 John 3:17

17 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?



How does knowing a need change how you live?

Orphans in Eastern Europe, Africa, Haiti...  

             the poor living in the inner cities of Chicago, Los Angeles, 

                           over 500,000 kids in America in foster care...

How are you living this out? 





Saturday, September 29, 2012

Thankfulness

Thankfulness leads to joy... 

 

1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.


Will you be thankful in all things?

Praying that these verses be made true in my life and yours...
 

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

The Unknown

Stepping out into the unknown is hard.  Not knowing what to expect or what might happen breeds anxiety.  The kind that keeps you awake at night.  But God is a God of peace.  And knowing that He has the future in His hands, helps me. 

Psalm 4:8
I will lie down and sleep in peace.
    Lord, you alone keep me safe. 


No matter what the future holds, I know that God will be with me.  He will give me the strength to face whatever the future holds.  He will be with me through anything that comes.



Psalm 112:7
He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.






Lord, keep my heart firm, trusting in You in every moment of every day.

My little ones...





Jacob arranged the photo and insisted that I take the photo just like this!!

Open Doors

John 14:18
"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you."

It is amazing when you are praying through something and God just throws open the doors!  I haven't often experienced that - just a handful of times in my life. 

But it feels so loving - like God is shouting YES! I love you, I want you to trust me and obey my commandments.  But here is the thing - I trust, and I obey, and He gives me the faith and the strength and the resources to do what He has commanded! 

I fall before Him wordless.  What an amazing God we serve.  Why do I worry?  Why do I doubt?  He is enough!

Hosea 14:3
  "In you the orphan finds mercy."

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Today is the day I became a mother...

How time flies... not that long ago he was this little guy...

and today he's 25!


Happy Birthday to my beloved son...



Friday, September 21, 2012

God is stirring my heart...

Have you ever had God stir your heart?  A time when God is reaching out on all sides of your life to speak to you?  Do you hear him?  Do you listen?  Will you obey?  I just joined some ladies reading a book called 'Having a Mary Spirit' by Joanna Weaver and the chapter they are on is called 'A Willing Spirit'.  In that chapter is a verse from Isaiah 6:8 - And I heard the voice of the Lord saying "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?  Then I said, "Here am I! Send me! And He said, Go..."  There are so many places in my life recently that God has said "Will you?" and I have said "I will."  But it has taken me so many years to be in a place where I can trust Him enough to say 'I will' in the midst of all my doubts when He asks. 

We have just completed our adoption of Julia, our beautiful little 4 year old from South Africa.  She is a bundle of personality and a girl who lives life filled with joy!  How we have been blessed by her in just the short time that she has been with us.  How she has become best friends with her brother and her nephew...
So I will listen to the stirring that God is doing in my heart, and I will go where He has asked me to go.  Follow along on our journey...