On Being Transformed...

(I love this picture...it is totally random,

 but so are some of my thought I share later in this post...)

Prayer Request Sunday

Here I am.  Here you are too.  Glad you stopped by, how was your week?

Can we pray about something together and see if we can take some of the heaviness or burden off your heart and put into our Father's hands together?

God is so amazing. 

 I was ministering Saturday morning with Sparrow Ministries and was just so filled with joy as I did.  What a privileged to follow God and to do what He is doing. 

 I was so blessed by a woman named Raven (not her actual name). Raven is near 70 years old I'd say, and suffers from health issues and has had many hard past life situations.  She was hard and tough to say the least.  Many were afraid of her and found her too difficult. God has been transforming Raven through love. He broke of so many hurts and has begun to heal her in so many ways!!!!

 Raven just amazed me, as she came to apologized to me for calling me a, "Jesus freak," so many times.  She saw it now as "persecution," and wanted to tell me how sorry she was for that.

 a bit of background:

 After I would talk with her, boldly sharing Jesus, she would turn and mock me to others (which included one of my daughters who had grown to love Raven and my Knight, who happened to also minister here.) "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus...she just says it too much!" she would say.  We laughed it off, as my own children say, "Mama is always calling out to Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!" (I do this if there is sudden need and I want Him interceding for us or in an urgent situation.  I am a woman of prayer and know who it is I need to call to.)

I had been sharing God's love for her, but never really felt like she was really listening or open to the gospel I was sharing. Raven picked at the breakfast food we gave out each week and let me sit with her from time to time, but I really felt like so little was making it to her heart. I gathered it up in prayer, as I know it is power to us.   God's Word never goes forth void.

  One morning she shared she had a dream that was really bothering her.  I told her that sometimes God had allowed me to interpret dreams and perhaps I could help her understand what it meant.  It was amazing what transpired next.  She gave me the details and the Lord quickly deposited meaning into the pictures she had held since the dream.  The dream was about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.  It was about her need to see Jesus for who He is and her need for Him to be her Lord and Savior. Raven didn't like Jesus and didn't believe He was part of the Trinity.  She listened to the interpretation, but still seemed to not really want to take anything from me, whether it be friendship, the gospel or dream interpretation.

I think the only reason she listened to me at all is because I told her earlier, that I too had Native American blood flowing through my veins (Blackfoot).  She as a Native American was okay with God, but not with Jesus.  She drew from that until God began unraveling the pictures He had spoke to her in this dream.  

Several weeks went past and I hadn't gone to minister.  When I came and plunked myself down next to her, as she ate her pancakes, she said, "Look at me closely, do you see anything different?"  I studied her, and other than she no longer looked angry, she was radiating light.  She began to giggle. 

(which isn't her at all!)

She blurted out, " I am a Jesus person too.  I asked Jesus to forgive me and I am a Christian now.  Hey, I got baptized. And I found this little church and the people are so helpful to me.  I am learning so much about Jesus!  I am telling everyone I know about him.

 I LOVE JESUS NOW TOO!"

You could have blown me right over.  I think I was laughing and crying at this point- I am sure I let out a shout of victory as well!!  

My friend Raven is transformed.  She is being transformed.  God's Word does that for us and to us.  He does it to us, if we let Him. 

 I want to be transformed, 

I am being transformed as I give Him my life.

We gave Raven a large print bible with Jesus' words in red. She had asked me weeks before for a Bible she could read.  When I bought it, I had prayed over it.  I asked God to use it to help her understand who it was that Jesus was.  But the day I gave it to her was the day she announced that she had found HIM.  She cried as I handed her the Bible and clutched the handwritten card with Jesus and all His many names on the front, to her breast.  She said this was the best thing that ever happened to her.  Funny how I thought when I chose the card that I might just get punched by her for it, now she wanted to frame it and look at it daily.  How fast God can move and how transformed one can be by His love poured out and received.

Oh Lord, transform us and let us be more and more like JESUS!

Sharing this and hoping it draws you in deeper too!

God is so good!  He is amazing!

The Past and the Future

As I was looking for something to write about, I came across this old family picture.  My sweet father, Laszlo and my mum, sandwich me in this old photo.  I am not sure who the woman is along side my dad, but assume it is an aunt. This picture gives me joy, but also stirs up a great sadness.

My dad has been gone for over 24 years now.  He took his last breaths just before my one and only pregnancy brought forth his first grandchild.  He never met any of his grandchildren and the loss has been huge to us all.  As you can see he found joy in family.

  My dad loved people and was always humming a song or singing.  He was a people guy and one who would give his shirt to anyone in need.  Proof of that would be the hundreds of people that came to his funeral; that I never met, but all had a story of how my dad had helped them.  He was loved and one who loved generously. Not many went through the line with a dry eye or without sharing in an unheard story of something my wonderful father had done for them.

Looking at me as a baby, I wonder by the look on my face if I am like him.  People have been more of a struggle for me.  I would love to be like him in that regard, but I find many times that relationships are complicated and that anything beyond the surface is really hard.  My heart longs to love, which I try, but not with as much ease as my father did it in.  It was a gift of his and one he used so very well.

My father was really laid back and I have been told that in that regard we are alike. I am easy going and so was my dear father.  He was a man of great creativity and loved to design things of beauty (mostly with wrought iron).  I wish I had more to show you, perhaps I need to talk to my mum about old family pictures and learn the art of scanning.  Time is such a hard thing to work these days. I have been told I am creative, so maybe he gave me some of that too.

I miss my dad.  I am not sure of his walk with God.  He was raised in a religion and didn't see the need to make it personal.  My heart often wonders and longs to know more about his spiritual life and his relationship with God.  I guess in that we are very different, as pretty much everyone I ever meet soon knows about my love for God and my personal relationship with Jesus.  I am an evangelist at heart and long to see the gospel transform those it touches. The Word of God is transforming for sure.

Mourning for my dad has been a long journey.  So many times things pop up in life and I wish he were here, so I could ask him what he'd do.  So often I want him to rejoice with me, but have to release tears of knowing it is just not possible.  My children have heard many stories about Grampie Kiss, but that and a few photos and my wedding video is all they will know of him.

I told God that when I get to heaven I might just hug my dad first, if he indeed is there.  You see I expect to see Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit, but my dad isn't in the definite column for eternity in my heart.

The Word says that there is only one way to heaven and that is through Jesus.  It isn't a church or a denomination that saves you, only the blood of Jesus.  That blood covers over all of our sins that separate us from a Holy God.  When we (each/individually/personally) confess our sins, and ask for forgiveness, He eagerly takes up position as Savior.  We make Him Lord as we give Him that position in our lives, every day thereafter.

The Savior is the only one who saves.  It isn't based on our goodness.  The Bible tells us none of us are able to earn our way there (Romans 3:23).  I hope my dad made that decision for himself, to invite Jesus to be his Lord and Savior- if he did he never told me.  We talked about my faith a lot, but he never moved from his views.  He listened, he was a great listener, but he never told or showed me differently before he left.

I share all of this very heartfelt stuff to say,  please don't put off what you should do today.  Please don't leave this earth without Jesus. My dad left suddenly and unexpectedly.  He was too young, but it was the time that God had allotted him on this earth.


 Jesus came to give you life and give it to you in the fullest (John 10:10).

If you don't know Him, He is waiting.  For those who are praying for you, bless their hearts and tell them you have decided to invite Jesus into your life.  
It will make the world of difference for you and for them.

Of course my hope is in Him 

and that I can trust 

that He works all things (to those who love Him) for my good. 

My dad was my hero,

 he was my best friend, 

I miss him terribly, 

but

 I have to say Jesus is my hero too,

 and the Word tells us He is the best friend any of us could ever want.

God's Perspective on Hell

How does this question sit with you?

How could a loving God send people to hell?

I'm feeling like I need to open this up...so let's go..

God desires that no one be separated from Him, but He is a God who allows each to choose whether to come into relationship with Him or not. It is totally up to us. Because He is a loving God, He allows us to pick our eternal destination...

two places only: 

  Heaven or Hell.

We arrive at heaven not by the seat of our pants, by our "goodness" (God's word says none of us are good enough to *earn our way in, by deeds, by who we are.  see Romans 3:10)

or by chance.

  Eternal life/salvation comes when we

humble ourselves,

 admit we are sinners (have done wrong) 

and

 invite Jesus to be Lord of our life. 

 (Because of who He is, He is able to save us...He is God's only son, without sin and was willing to go to the cross in our place, that we could be forgiven, accepted, adopted and received into His family

 (and go to heaven one day). 

 I get upset when I hear,  
"How could a loving God send people to hell?"

It's our choice, not His. (please reread paragraph one.)

His word clearly says that He desires that none would perish (die in separation from Him).

  If we do not want to spend time with Him now (relationship/salvation), 

then post this life, the only place that will be without God is: 

 HELL.

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some people understand slowness, but is being patient with you. He does not want anyone to perish, but wants everyone to repent.

Heaven and eternal life are a gift He freely offers to each of us.

 Ephesians 2:8-9

  Please feel free to reject the gift,

but don't blame God when hell is the only other option.

Does God Ever Talk to You ...

...with notes of love?

I have a hard time not noticing God speaking to me.  I have to say my ear is always cocked to hear the Holy Spirit's voice.  So often God speaks to me through things in my everyday, most often He doesn't sign His name, but I always know it is Him.

Now, God might not have given you a cool heart shaped birthmark right in the middle of your forehead, but you know He loves you just as much as this sweet little calf. Actually, He loves you even more.  He loves you so much that He has a plan to woo you into His family.  Do you know about this plan of His to bring you close to Him, so close that you get to spend eternity together? 

The plan started with God sending His One and Only Son into to the world.  His Son's name is Jesus.  Jesus willingly paid the needed price to bring you into relationship with God. God is Holy (without sin) and because we are sinners we are separated from Him.  The price Jesus paid was by the shedding of His blood, the price meant death and pain for Jesus on the cross, but He willingly did it...

WHY?

Because He loves you.  He always has and no matter what you do, He always will. 

Sin separates us from God.  But coming to God as He is wooing you to and telling Him, you know you fall short (we all do) because of sin, to a relationship to Him...but that you want to confess those wrong doings and invite Jesus to be your Lord and Savior; for the rest of your days.

He has your name written on His hands and on His heart...won't you bow your heart to Him today? 

 I am praying for you.  I can't wait to hear that you've been adopted by my heavenly Father...and that we are truly a family.

May you see Him wherever you turn and may His love for you flood over you today like never before.  I pray that He turns up everywhere you set yourself this week. 

Be blessed my friends, be blessed!

 

Join Me in Prayer Today (PLEASE!)

A need for prayer...

I have a friend who has a huge need...her husband was crushed under her car, July 4th. He was trying to work on her muffler and then the car fell on him.
We need to pray, as Chris and Lodamia don't know Jesus.

They have two small children who are really having a hard time. Lodamia is struggling because she didn't hear Chris's yells for help (but luckily before he lost consciousness, a neighbor did).  He was flown to the hospital in Lifestar (his second time that he has been flown to the hospital in bad shape!)

God has put it on my heart to go pray with Chris (and Lo)...but honestly without God making a way I won't be able to, as Chris isn't allowed to have visitors due to the seizures.  Even Lodamia isn't allowed to go into his room very often due to the great number of seizures he is having.

God has showed me a vision of praying for Chris and walking him through accepting Jesus as Savior.  He has told me that though Chris is unresponsive, that he is still able to hear and understand.  I am willing, if He makes a way.

The plan is to go sometime tonight with my sister in law and my friend Brent's (see yesterday's post)...wife. 

Would you boldly believe with me for a way into Chris's room tonight.  Would you believe with me for their hearts to be prepared (for Lo, for Chris, for Chris's mom, who recently lost her husband to cancer).

In my own strength my prayers are just words...but in God's power they are words of Life. 

I will confess that though I LOVE to share the gospel and am not afraid to pray with anyone at any time, that this situation has me feeling a bit undone around the edges of my heart.  I seriously could use some prayer warriors to join me in this mission.

Thank you in advance...

Let the Kingdom of God come today for Chris and his family as it is in heaven.  Seeking God for His will to be done on earth, as it is in heaven today for this family.

Faith...Knowing Jesus!

This post is subtitled:  The Most Wonderful Day

Did you hear me yesterday?

I gave a loud shout of Praise to my God...it was about 11 a.m eastern standard time. 

Do you want to know why?

Well, this year God has allowed me to lead 5 people into His family.  Five dear people were led into God's family through repentance of their sins and asking Jesus to take up residence in their hearts.  Yesterday, one of my best friends (after more than 20 years of prayer) accepted Jesus as their Savior! 

 Brent has been my friend since I was sixteen years old.  Many years I have spoken to him about having Jesus become His Savior. He married one of my best friends (Beth) and has been surrounded by Christians who have been praying and planting seeds for salvation.  Praise God, yesterday was the day Brent said yes!! 

Brent's family was also rejoicing...as each of us for years and years have been waiting for him to join our family.  I can't even tell you the number of times post Brent's decision that I spoke out *Praise God!!!* throughout the day.  I couldn't be happier for him, for his sweet wife Beth (who is a Christian) and for his 3 small children, who now will have a dad who loves and serves Jesus!!

After church each week our Pastor asks us to ask those around us if they'd like to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  If they say yes, we are to walk them down.  Brent has been coming to church for several months, many times I have wanted to ask him, but each week he was sitting to far away from me and he would leave before I could get over to him.

This week, I literally announced to my children that I needed to get to *Uncle Brent*...at Pastor's last words I flew over my children (I think literally) and grabbed Brent.  He was already making his way out of the sanctuary, toting his sister in laws car seat and a diaper bag.  I grabbed him and said, "Please, please, please Brent, let's go forward today.  Let's not wait another day.  You want to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior today. Please, please, please.  You heard Pastor say I needed to ask you.  Come on let's go."

To which he began to make excuses.  How he needed to get his kids, how today just wouldn't work....but I refused to let him go.  You see I had heard the Holy Spirit speak to me about Brent and walking him up today and there was NO WAY I was going to let him out of that building without Jesus.

Probably not the typical way to lead someone to Christ, but we are close friends and have a love for each other that overcomes any way that I would get him to walk up front.

Somewhere in the process of him saying yes He would go, his sweet wife Beth came alongside of us.  I told her what we were discussing and she began to cry.  The three of us walked up front and I began to pray over Brent as we waited for a prayer minister to come and pray with Brent.  Beth was crying quietly and holding her husband so tight.  I was standing at his other side, praying and also quietly hearing God's heart for Brent.  Post Brent confessing his sin and inviting Jesus into his life...I began to Praise my wonderful God out loud.  I let out a very loud shout of Praise, as my heart couldn't hold it in any longer!!  Twenty plus years of prayer had been answered and the angels and I were rejoicing greatly.

I got to spend the day with Brent and his family (we all went to me mum's house)...I introduced him as my new brother in Christ and just went about the day with a huge smile and thankfulness oozing out of my every ounce of being.

God is so faithful!

And just so you know.  After we prayed together....Brent said, "Thank you, I have wanted to go up for weeks now!" 

YIPPEE~ my God is so good!

And I also would add, that the night before, the enemy was trying to keep me from going to church.  I had a very bad nightmare, which I woke myself up from, as I just didn't want to have it play out in full. I got up and got a drink and do you know what...I went back into dreaming the same nightmare.  I was so tired from lack of sleep and disturbance of mind, that I pondered staying home from church.  I talked myself into pushing through the exhaustion and now I am so glad that I did.

God is so good!

Do you want to know Jesus too...send me an email and we can pray too!

Conversation Starters...

Okay, I spent 20 minutes looking for a picture of the back of my Suburban, this is the best I can do...really I could have ran outside and snapped a current picture, but hey its wet and rainy outside.  So this is what you are going to get...read on!

I wanted to show you a small portion of my testimony that follows me as I drive about. On the rear back door lives 9 Christian fish...we are still short one, but are awaiting its arrival. 

There are two big fish with 7 small fish that follow after.  Each fish represents one of us.  The fish represent that fact that we are Christians.

Today this testimony of 9 fish, a car and adoption led me to pray for a man named Roman in a parking lot, where my family had just shopped for our groceries.

Let me set up for you...

Princess Sweetness and I are coming out of the food warehouse store with a cart of groceries.  My Knight met us outside the door, as he had run an errand as we shopped.  He led us to our silver Suburban *Katrinka.  As he began unpacking the cart I spotted directly behind us -what I anticipated to be a gray 15 passenger van.  My husband stopped unpacking and walked over to this van to see if indeed it was *big* enough for our family.  As he walked around it, peaking in, a man came up behind him.  My Knight asked him if this was his van.  The man said, "No." 

 I explained we were in need of a bigger car, as we were full presently, with our newest daughter arriving from Ethiopia. I told him that we now had 8 children, 7 who had been adopted.

The man began to tell me that he and his wife had looked at this type of van. He said it had 10-12 seats.  My Knight went back to packing the car.  I kept talking. 

The man said they too had adopted children, 3, from Korea.  How he wanted another, but his wife said if he got any more, he'd need a new wife.  He commended me on having the patience for so many.  I turned the talk to God.  I asked him if he was a Christian.  He said he saw my fish and knew I was one.  I asked him again if he too was a Christian. 

 He replied, "My wife is, but I am not born-again, I am...(insert a religion)." 

 I said, " I don't care what your religion is, is Jesus your Lord and Savior?" 

He didn't say anything.

I asked him if he had read John 3:3 that says we must be born-again.  I told him this was not a religion, but came straight from God. I asked him if he had read John lately.

He said, "It had been a long time."

I smiled and told him he should. I asked him what his name was.

He said, "Roman."

I said, "Roman can I pray for you?"

He said, "Yes."

I asked if I could put my hand on his shoulder while I prayed, he nodded his head.

I then prayed that God would bless him and his wife.  Strengthen his marriage and bless his family in ways that could only come from God.  I prayed that his children would be blessed and that God would open his heart to understand who He was.  I finished by saying..in Jesus' name amen.

He thanked me and drove away. 

I wonder if he will tell his wife when he gets home. I am sure she is praying that he too becomes a Christian. I am sure it is her hearts desire.

Regardless, God is drawing him closer.  And how could I not thank Him, for allowing me to plant seeds in Roman's life.  Seeds that I pray that God will continue to water, until he comes to salvation through repentance and asking Jesus to be His Lord and Savior.

How I love to pray with people, how I love to lead people into His family.  Oh, how I love to share my love for Jesus.  Of course I would have loved to lead him to Jesus right there, but God didn't open that door.  God knows how eager I am to lead others to Christ.  He knows how I love adoption in the physical and in the spiritual. 

Lord, thank you for giving me the opportunity to point Roman to You.  Lord, please continue to speak to him through whoever You wish.  I ask that someday I see him again, maybe in heaven if not here

 and he will say, "Guess what...I am a Christian!"

Hey...do you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior?  I'd love to share how to become a Christian...

send me an email or leave me a comment...and we'll pray too!

I've heard it said that, "Fish on a car isn't going to save anyone."  Hmm, I think maybe not, but what a great way to start a conversation that just might lead to sharing Jesus! 

Harvest of a Man in China!

Seeds planted for Harvest

We recently learned that a sweet friend's dad had terminal cancer. I have been praying for him for over a year now, as he claimed he was an ath*ist. My girlfriend, Sophia, is Chinese and asked me to believe with her for her father's salvation. It was pretty hard ground she warned me.

Our conversation happened before we knew her beloved father had an aggressive cancer...actually he was just an older man in those days. A man that experienced much sorrow over the past few years; he had experienced much tragedy within his family. He lost his only son, then he lost his wife, his only other child became a Christian and he was angry.

Not angry enough however to turn away from his only child, he came this past summer, all the way from China to help her after the birth of her fourth child. He ran the house all day, as Chinese tradition is that the mother stays in bed for a full month after giving birth. He stayed for 6 months, in their Christian home. Weekly my friend's Chinese church, met in their living room for a prayer meeting.

He was a very tiny man, and very old, it appeared. I'd come to the house and see him out in the yard pushing a toddler on a toy. Holding another, watching them with an eagle eye always. Still no news of a change of heart. His health began to change for the worse. His daughter, my friend, worried-as he could not get health care here without a green card.

My friend hoped for him to stay longer, she had petitioned the government asking for more time...well, then he got sick, very sick. She finally put him on a plane, in hopes he'd get some care back in China.

We found out it was lung cancer, that it had traveled to several other organs and was now in his brain. She asked us (my Bible study group) to pray, she was going to leave her family, her husband, her country and go to her father to care for him. Pleading with us to please ask God to save her father before his time was up here on earth.

I rejoice greatly, that we received news that her dad asked Jesus to forgive his sins, he chose to repent of those sins and to give his remaining days over to God. He knows that there is a God now and that there is a Savior who died to make a way for eternal life for him. He calls himself a follower of Jesus, though his whole life He rejected Him.

Last year I asked God to give me a ministry in China. I boldly asked God to let me see this ministry. He let me pray for Sophia's dad. And to God be the Glory, He brought him into our family through our prayers! I am praying that he touches other lives before God calls him home...introducing them to His Savior!

Hey don't laugh, my God is that big and my faith is that radical.

Here on earth, I was never able to converse with Sophia's dad, as there was a language barrier...but when we meet in heaven, we will have some lovely talks together. And boy am I happy -totally JOY-Filled about that.

Prayer Request Sunday

Hi sweet friends! Welcome to Prayer Request Sunday!

Today is the day that I gather your prayer requests...do you have something you'd like for me to pray for you? If you do (and who doesn't) ...leave me a little note and I will begin to cover you with intercessory prayer.

I was also thinking last night how some may not know God and how I don't want them to think that prayer is anything like witchcraft. Prayer is communication of one of God's children to their Father.

In order for us to know God, we must come to Him through Jesus (His only Son.) There is no access to God, except through Jesus, the Bible makes this clear. Jesus is our mediator, He sits next to God the Father, interceding for us, waiting to become the WAY into relationship with the Father.

John 14:6

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but through Me."

and look at what else Jesus tells us:

John 14:1

"Do not let your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me."

now if you are His child, adopted into His family though accepting Jesus as your Messiah and Lord...then how is this for a promise...

John 14:13

"And whatsoever you should ask in my name (Jesus), that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son."

Witchcraft is a form of manipulation- it is dark and is involved with evil. I speak of witchcraft today, because before I came to know Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I used witchcraft instead of prayer to get what I wanted. I used it to control my circumstances, it had nothing to do with yielding myself before God.

Prayer is a sincere heart, humbling itself before God, asking for Him to come in Power into our lives. I just wanted you to understand what it is that I do, when you ask me to pray for you. My hearts cry is for you to know Jesus, that you too will walk away from the darkness of this world and join the family of God...you see it is about adoption. Jesus stands waiting for you to come, waiting for you to confess Him as Lord, waiting for you to confess that you have sin that you need (that we need) for Him to cleanse us from. Call on His name, confess you too are a sinner in desperate need of Jesus our Savior-the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of this world. My dear friends, there is no other way...any other road or way leads to death and seperation-eternally from God.

Hey, if you do ask Jesus into your life...would you let me know...that would make my day. And hey, it would also set off a party in heaven, as the angels rejoice each time a sinner repents and comes into the family!

Luke 15:10

Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

Love is....

Love is: (my list of 10)

Adoption

seven children (for now ;-)

having a faithful loving husband

knowing God

knowing the voice of the Holy Spirit

friends

a baby after years of secondary infertility

cloth diapers

spring flowers

my camera (Nikon D40)

What are your ten?

Happy Resurrection Sunday!

My Redeemer Lives!

Praising God, that Jesus is not dead and in a tomb, but sitting at the right hand of God; as His work is finished!

Praying for your families, to have a day of joyful reflection of the awesome Love of God. May you be blessed and may each of you walk in His fullness.

Jesus loves you, so much that He came to earth, to be born in a manger, to live a sinless life to point the way for us. Jesus Christ lived, taught and willingly gave His life as a perfect payment for our sins. He died on a wooden cross, pierced for our transgressions. If we come to Him, confessing our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and welcomes us

(by adoption)

;-)

into His family.

If you want to know Him as Lord and Savior of your life...and still not sure HOW, send me an email and I will be happy to pray with you.

How God put the seeds of adoption...

...in my heart.

I've been thinking a lot about how God prepares us for what He wants for our lives. How He begins early, in planting seeds in our lives for what He is asking us to do. He did for me, so I am sure He did the same for you. I am not His favorite

.

One of my first 'best friends' was a huge influence on my life. Her name was Dawn, and we spent many years and hours together. Back then, I thought it was all play, but looking back from where I stand, I can clearly see what the Holy Spirit was whispering to my heart.

You see Dawn T. was adopted, she knew it, and her family openly shared it with me. Something about that word, struck a chord in my heart strings; one that continues to sound and draw me to adoption.

Dawn had a wonderful relationship with her parents. Her parents adored her, but not the kind of adoration that leads to a spoiled child, but the kind that leads to a child with a heart that laughs. I think of Dawn and I think of laughter and happiness.

Last Friday, I got a phone call from Dawn, she is living a few towns away and wanted to know that she thinks of me, 'Often,' she said. Her dad, who is now a widower, was over for dinner and was asking if she ever heard from me. Thus the call, while it was on her heart and the moment was available.

Dawn probably isn't aware that God used her life to put me into the purposes He destined me for. After all, we were just children, friends who loved each other and we were not thinking of adulthood or 'calls of God.'

I'm hoping we will get together soon. Life is so busy. When we were friends I wasn't a Christian, we bumped into each other as teens, but not long enough for me to share my new faith. I am praying that God uses our path to point to Himself.

I was also thinking about how passionate I am about adoption.

Honestly, just the word 'adoption' makes me cry.

The fact that there are so many that will never know what it means to be adopted, whether physically in this world or spiritually for eternity sake. That is one of the reasons that I am fanatical about adoption...it takes the lost and hurting and not only rescues them in this life, but it gives them the opportunity to come into a Christian home (as Believers are called to take care of orphans...James 1:27!!) and get adopted into God's family. A family here to be loved by and a Father who will never leave them or forsake them. It's about salvation, its about the evangelical heart God has put within me, the heart that doesn't want anyone to be left lost. Or to be left to suffer, to know loneliness and pain that comes when we are without God, without a Savior who rescues us from death and separation from God, because of our sins.

That, to me is beautiful. I want you each to know and understand the Kingdom beauty of adoption.

I'm praying for you ...that you will dare to ask God,

"Lord, what shall I do about orphans?"

I dare you to ask, I double dog dare you to share this with your spouses and boldly go to God with it together.

Hebrews 13:20-21

Prayer Request Sunday

Hi dear friends!

Hope you've popped in to say 'hello,' and to leave me a prayer request!

If you are here for the first time...Sunday's are a time I have set aside, to post my request to gather your prayer requests. I am a Christian, who strongly believes in the power of prayer; I have seen it reach my Father's ear and have so often been blessed to see those very prayers that I have brought to Him answered.

Do you have something that I can pray for...there is always something to bring to God. Of course if you don't have a relationship with God and would like one, I'd be happy to pray with you for that. There is a loving Father who awaits to hear from you, a God that loved you so much that He sent His only Son Jesus to come to earth to be your Savior.

Jesus is the only way to the Father...won't you come into a real-ationship with Him today. Don't put it off until tomorrow, for we aren't promised tomorrow...I'm praying for you now. I can't wait to be able to rejoice, that you have been adopted into the family...and if you don't know HOW I feel about adoption...well, stick around ;-)

Bless you my sweet friends, I pray the windows of heaven are open over your lives!

Birthmom meeting in Ethiopia

Sorry, I haven't answered this question that some of you had, 'How was our birth mother meeting?'

Well, a couple things have gotten in the way of me posting, namely time, secondly the wee babe and I are both sick. (cough, congestion and a icky runny nose) The two boys were sick the day before and now Fazzdike (14) is feverish (she has been in bed all day today).

Thank you all for praying for this with us. The night we arrived we were given an itinerary for the next 5 days. Listed on it were the birth mother meetings, listed by the adoptive parents last name.

Ours was not listed. My heart was very sad, as I had wanted to meet her and do as God had led me. Four parents in our group of eight families, were blessed with a visit with the birth families. They said they were emotional, but beautiful. I think all of them said the families were Christian, and loved Jesus! Praise God. There was sadness, but rejoicing, pain, mixed with joy in knowing their children would be raised in loving Christian homes, Christian homes that follow Jesus daily.

We don't know why our birth mom didn't come. I think she lived two hours away, so perhaps this was the reason. We will never know. We did leave a scrapbook of pictures for her, our family, our home, pictures we were given of her and Little Beauty...when she brought her to the orphanage. I tried to make it special, thinking this was all she would have and I would be blessed with the beautiful baby.

The morning we left for Ethiopia, the Holy Spirit told me to print out some scripture. I was able to print John chapter 3: 1-7 , John 3:16 in Amharic (one of the languages of Ethiopia), also Romans 8: 17-23. I found a site, I printed the whole chapters, and highlighted the verses I wanted her to read and ponder in her heart. Words of life. I was searching for a translation site(English to Amharic), we had used this when we adopted from Hungary (English to Hungarian). We left our house an hour later than planned...but my thought was that after I had shared what God had put on my heart, she would have some of God's word to ponder after our meeting. It is true we only see dimly here where we currently stand, I now hope that these verses will bring her to the understanding of God and Jesus that she needs. Of course she may already know Him, now I will not know.

Amharic Bible online

I pray she will come by Hannah's Hope and pick it up. I would have liked to bring her an Amharic Bible, but we aren't allowed to give any gifts. Honestly, I don't think a Bible is a gift, not in the sense that we think of a gift as, I truly think of it as life, for without it...How would we find Jesus and eternal life?

I am so glad you were praying, I am hoping our prayers will draw her to come and get that photo album, and tucked in the back are the Love notes from God...I pray that she finds not only the note, but joyous life in Him!

15 minutes for Eternity

• For those of you who have been here before, you know we are heading out tomorrow, to go receive our bundle of joy, that God has for us in Ethiopia (hey, we're ADOPTING...!)

• For those of you who know me, either face to face or from afar, you know that I am passionate about my Jesus. Today I heard this quote, don't know who said it, but totally agree that faith without action is dead...

'Faith isn't about what you believe...

it is what you do with what you believe.'

Some of you know we have a possible birth parent meeting while we are in Ethiopia. (Tuesday or Wednesday we are told). Now I have been struggling with this, not from fear, but from not knowing what I could say that would have meaning. I didn't just want to fill the meeting with words, words without meaning, comfort or life.

My goal as a born-again believer is to make an impact on this world, it is to use my life to influence, to make a real difference. I couldn't get my mind around what I could say, that would give the birth family comfort, bring them peace, joy and life.

Some might say, that is too big. That I am over thinking or perhaps worrying...let it just happen some would say...

Well, anyway I was wrestling with it. Then two days ago I talked to Julie, our case worker, she said most likely the meeting would be 15-20 minutes (unless we desired it to be longer). I thought this should have given me peace, but it did not. I went to bed thinking, "What can I say, what should I say, what God will we say? What do You want me to do, what is it that You are requiring of me?" All kinds of things ran through my natural mind. Let me tell you all of them were flat and dead.

I continued to pray and had one dear girlfriend praying along with me. ( She is a prayer warrior...you know who you are.) Today at 3:45, the Holy Spirit told me to open my Bible. He directed me to :

Ephesians chapter 3: 7-20.

I began to weep as I read what God was asking me to do. Again, not from fear, but from sheer joy. My Father, was directing my path :

Proverbs: 3:5-6

This is what the Holy Spirit then spoke to me, 'Tell her you are a Christian, tell her that you love my Son Jesus, tell her that you will raise her daughter as a Christian. Ask her if she knows Jesus. If she doesn't lead her to me. If she does...rejoice greatly!'

So, now I can speak life to this family. Now, my 15 minutes or more, won't have questions that are just filler...sigh, My God is so good and so much bigger than we let Him be. My heart is so grateful for His direction. Would you join me and ask God to prepare her (their...maybe grandmom and aunt) heart?

Thanks, really.

Hey and if you want to know How to become a Christian...check this out!

Christmas morning at our house

Bright and early Christmas morning at our house

The children gather and wait for the signal

We pass by our tree to head to the barn

Papa carries the wee ones to the barn...Hunter (our dog) waits for our arrival

Papa rose early to get the barn toasty warm

The seats are all set up. Papa will sit be the manger my dad made, in the manger lies baby Jesus

Homemade stockings will wait a few minutes longer,
Papa filled them last night-we don't invite Santa to our Christmas celebration...

just Jesus and family for us

Baby Jesus the center of our celebration

...we bowed our heads in prayer as a family...

Papa reads from the Bible, Luke chapter one and two

We sip hot chocolate and eat tasty treats

A popcorn holder...for movie nights

Italian cookies...for breakfast

Italian ricotta pie..laced with chocolate this year

Together we open our stockings, stopping to share our excitement over something sweet and special ...

Off to church to worship God and give thanks for our Saviour, Jesus

...later we will open a few presents under our tree

Moments of tradition that let us take joy, for all we have been given and much thanks to the Giver who loved us so much not only was He willing to come as a human baby in a manger -fully God and yet fully man, but to give Himself 33 years later as a payment for our sins.

How can we not love this special celebration...we have so much to be thankful for.

Shots of December

counting the days of Advent

As I said before, December zoomed by...really. Here are a few things we did in preparation of celebrating the coming of JESUS. He is so much more than a babe in a manger, He is in my life...won't you invite Him to become all He is, in yours?

John 14:6

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

A friendship moment

James 2:23 (Young's Literal Translation)

and fulfilled was the Writing that is saying, `And Abraham did believe God, and it was reckoned to him -- to righteousness;' and, `Friend of God' he was called.

As I read this, I found tears flowing down my cheeks. As I considered that not only Abraham and those who knew him, but God himself, considered himself Abraham's friend. Mutual, filled with power and love, a true friendship. My heart grew heavy, then the Holy Spirit whispered, "I feel the same way about you." O Blessed Day.

He is a friend like no other. He loves you and wants to ignite that intimate friendship with you too. Do you know Him? Have you asked Him into your life? Are you walking with Him daily? Do you need to relight the Fire within your heart for Him? Before we go any further with this friendship study, can you let me know if you know Him? And if you don't, please drop me an email or comment and I'd be thrilled to introduce you to my Friend Jesus.

And they were called Friend of God...