So i know i havent written in a while... things have been really hard to say the least! Linny from a Place called Simplicity wrote about how the enemy of our souls absolutely hates when people come together and adopt, ransom these precious lives for our savior.. and how he goes on the offensive against us....
Well we have seen this is a big way in the last year of our lives... over the last 1months we have had an adoption disruption, sickness, major home damage that took months to get fixed and the day it was fixed my hubby lost his job... which lead to major financial problems, more sickness, loss of our entire "adoption fund", we've lost friends, have had to deal with some family issues, for the first time ever my hubby is having a hard time keeping up with his school work because of being so down about everything.... and lastly we are going through a hard time in our relationship... the stress of everything is just too much sometimes... we are definitely in survival mode at the moment and have no idea how long we will be here... and to that, our homestudy renewal is coming up in november and we cant renew unless hubby has a new job making the same or more than before.... if this doesnt happen our homestudy will lapse and we will have to start all over again after he finds work :(
We know that the Creator of the universe is on our side!!!! and WE will prevail!!!! Plain and simple we need prayers!!! LOTS AND LOTS OF THEM!!! lol
Please consider visiting
http://aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/2010/09/why-does-it-have-to-be-so-hard-part-2.html
and take some time to pray over all of the families that are in the midst of ransoming so precious little ones into thier forever families!
Blessings,
Liz
Monday, September 6, 2010
Saturday, July 3, 2010
4 Years!!!!
Fours Years ago... today, i married my best friend! "the scotsman"
We had very much a whirlwind romance.... One which began over the phone and computer, yep thats right we talked and began to fall for one another long before we met face to face!
Then on January 29th, 2006... I spent hours getting ready lol (i even went and got a hair cut just so my hair would look great!... i didnt need a hair cut at all, i had just had one... but i wanted to look perfect) i did my make up twice... haha YES! i did my face completely and then washed it all off and did it again! i was so nervous! which was strange for me.... i had never really cared about dates and such... I was always like here i am, take me or leave me! as i was rushing around cleaning the house and getting ready that morning i stopped at one point in the middle of it all and thought..."what is going on with me? im never like this!" then i just laughed and kept on with my craziness....
I was ready WAY early! haha and i was sitting in my bedroom staring out the window to the parking lots hoping i would be able to see him drive up... again with this giddy girly craziness... never ever was like this before! there was just somthing about THIS guy.... I did see him pull up and my heart was beating so fast i thought i was going to pass out lol the moment i saw him walking up to my building... I WAS SMITTEN!!! as i walked to answer the door, i thought..."ohh man, Liz... this isnt just some guy.... this might just be THE guy!" I opened the door he said hi, hugged me and i melted....
(mind you i can be honest about this know... at the time? heck no! i had to "play hard to get" i had to be the girl who didnt "need a man!" (and i didnt need "a man" i needed "this guy!") but ofcourse i couldnt let him know that ;)
We went to a movie.... he held my hand.... he was shaking!
Again.... i melted! He was just as nervous as ME!
We went to dinner and talked and talked and talked.... there was NEVER an "awkward silence" it was just smooth comfortable conversation!
Before we even left the table after dinner, he reached across the table grabbed my hand and said "ive had a great time tonight! I wanna see you again... when can i see you again?"
He smiled.... I melted!
4 days later i found myself driving out to the DC metro area... somewhere i had never even been.... just to see him again! and a few days after that he was again knocking on my door.... this went on for weeks, every few days spending more and more time together! We saw movies, played putt putt.... went to the batting cages.... went hiking, had picnics....went to the zoo & to concerts in the park... played and walked my dogs, by the way... they LOVED him, and he LOVED them.... and i fell harder and harder! by march we went on a vacation to the mountains of VA, and by April we had met each others family and friends.... We were getting closer and closer by the minute..... Full steam ahead!
Now ill be completely honest.... Did we bring glory to God with our relationship? No! I was very far from having a close relationship with God, very far.... and The Scotsman? he didnt even know him...... but at the time.... i didnt care!
On June 13th we were at the Baltimore inner harbor.... and the scotsman looked at me and said "So im getting ready to leave for scotland in a few weeks, and id really like you to come and meet my family!" (i had known about this trip for a while.... and he had hinted that i should get my passport ready cuz he wanted me to come... but he hadnt officially asked me yet... by the way, i was already getting my passport ready hahaha "just in case" lol) with wide eyes i looked at him and before he could even finish i said,"YES YES!!!!! i would love to go!!!!!" he laughed and said "AWESOME" then he looked at me and said somehting i will never forget as long as i live! He said... "So you know how much i love you?" to which i responded that i did.... then he said... "Well i dont want to take you to scotland to meet my family just as my girlfriend.... (by this time im thinking is he proposing??? driving down the road??? HAHAHA --- he wants to take me as his fiance'??? --- NOPE) he says...
"I'd like to take you as my WIFE!... What do ya think?"
My heart was racing.... this felt completely crazy! i looked at him and asked him if he was proposing? He said that he was.... i asked him if he was sure! He said that he was.... and then i told him that i needed a proper proposal! (you know like on one knee and all ;) but that when he did i would surely NOT SAY NO! hehehe
Over our day walking around the inner harbor we talked about what we wanted to do, like when we would get married and how this would all happen before the trip in less than 4 weeks!!
none of that matter though.... because as crazy as it seemed, i was completely head over heals IN LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Later that night he "officially" got down on one knee and asked me... i ofcourse said yes! After talking with his parents they graciously offered to allow us to get married in thier beautiful home, and we decided that July 4th, would be the day....
It was just over 3 weeks away! Everyone thought we were crazy! ha even US at times......
Those 3 weeks were a whirlwind of dresses, and cakes, passport problems and scrabbling to get everything done.... but we tried to soak up every minute! We called each other "fiance'" as many times as we could (since we werent engaged for very long lol) and had as much fun as possible planning our day! Days before i moved out of my apartment and left the single life behind!
Before we knew it the day was here.... i was awake very early, cuz i couldnt wait to get there :) We were married on one of the hottest/humid summer days of 2006 lol and it was THE. BEST. DAY.!!!! a few days later we left for our honeymoon..... Those were the sweetest days.... one of just pur bliss... no worries! completely escaped from real life! Reality would come later.... then it was just US, together on our first adventure as husband and wife!
We thought the hard part was over! ha... but it was really just begining.... but the honeymoon isnt the time for that.... its a time for bliss <3
the struggles came months later.... when i was missing somthing in my life.... it just took me a while to figure out that was my Sweet Saviour!!!!
See the Scotsman and i were "perfect" for each other by every criteria of the world.....but to be honest here!!!
Our relationship shouldnt even have started! and wouldnt had i been walking close to Christ! We didnt believe the same things and had i been walking close to God, i probably wouldnt have even given him a second thought.... But i now know that God has used our relationship, in HUGE ways! About 6 months after our wedding the scotsman accepted christ! what an amazing thing! to be able to sit in our little apartment with him and pray and introduce him to our LORD AND SAVIOUR!!! has our reltionship been easy? HECK NO! we didnt enter into a marriage the way God commands us to.... so there have been consequense, and hardships some that we could have never imagined!! We didnt get to take the easy road, we had to take the hard one... but!!! Are we perfect? NO WAY! but Jesus is working in us.... and i thank HIM everyday for using my foolishness and the time in my life that i was ignoring HIM to bring me someone who has loved me the way that christs loves me!! and the scotsman has shown me that....
Our wedding Day - July 4th, 2006
My Sexy Scotsman waiting for me....
'Til death do us part....
You may know kiss the bride! Woohooo YIPPPEEEE :D:D:D
Baby,
I love you more today than i ever have! You are my best friend, and buddy... I love to talk to you and hang out with you.... You look at me and i feel as thought you are seeing my soul! You are the only person on this side of heaven that knows every part of me... the good the bad and the ugly! you know ALL my struggles and you love me just the same... i often sit and wonder what on earth i ever did to deserve your love! and then i realize... i dont! But God loves me so much, he gave you to me anyway! *tears* I am so humbled by this!! Do we have a perfect relationship? no way... We fight, yell, and argue... We disagree and drive each other bonkers! but through it all our love never fads....
To quote a line from one of our favorite movies... "I'd rather fight with you for the rest of my life, than ever make love to anyone else!" (the wedding date)
I love you Baby, more than anything in this world... and i pray everyday that we will now be a team for christ! that we will be able to live a purpose filled life for our Lord and Saviour!! I am SO excited to see where life takes us.... With you by my side, i can do anything! Thank you for being my biggest Fan, and always cheering me on... No. Matter. What!
I love you so much!!
Always,
Your Pet <3
Mr & Mrs
We had very much a whirlwind romance.... One which began over the phone and computer, yep thats right we talked and began to fall for one another long before we met face to face!
Then on January 29th, 2006... I spent hours getting ready lol (i even went and got a hair cut just so my hair would look great!... i didnt need a hair cut at all, i had just had one... but i wanted to look perfect) i did my make up twice... haha YES! i did my face completely and then washed it all off and did it again! i was so nervous! which was strange for me.... i had never really cared about dates and such... I was always like here i am, take me or leave me! as i was rushing around cleaning the house and getting ready that morning i stopped at one point in the middle of it all and thought..."what is going on with me? im never like this!" then i just laughed and kept on with my craziness....
I was ready WAY early! haha and i was sitting in my bedroom staring out the window to the parking lots hoping i would be able to see him drive up... again with this giddy girly craziness... never ever was like this before! there was just somthing about THIS guy.... I did see him pull up and my heart was beating so fast i thought i was going to pass out lol the moment i saw him walking up to my building... I WAS SMITTEN!!! as i walked to answer the door, i thought..."ohh man, Liz... this isnt just some guy.... this might just be THE guy!" I opened the door he said hi, hugged me and i melted....
(mind you i can be honest about this know... at the time? heck no! i had to "play hard to get" i had to be the girl who didnt "need a man!" (and i didnt need "a man" i needed "this guy!") but ofcourse i couldnt let him know that ;)
We went to a movie.... he held my hand.... he was shaking!
Again.... i melted! He was just as nervous as ME!
We went to dinner and talked and talked and talked.... there was NEVER an "awkward silence" it was just smooth comfortable conversation!
Before we even left the table after dinner, he reached across the table grabbed my hand and said "ive had a great time tonight! I wanna see you again... when can i see you again?"
He smiled.... I melted!
4 days later i found myself driving out to the DC metro area... somewhere i had never even been.... just to see him again! and a few days after that he was again knocking on my door.... this went on for weeks, every few days spending more and more time together! We saw movies, played putt putt.... went to the batting cages.... went hiking, had picnics....went to the zoo & to concerts in the park... played and walked my dogs, by the way... they LOVED him, and he LOVED them.... and i fell harder and harder! by march we went on a vacation to the mountains of VA, and by April we had met each others family and friends.... We were getting closer and closer by the minute..... Full steam ahead!
Now ill be completely honest.... Did we bring glory to God with our relationship? No! I was very far from having a close relationship with God, very far.... and The Scotsman? he didnt even know him...... but at the time.... i didnt care!
On June 13th we were at the Baltimore inner harbor.... and the scotsman looked at me and said "So im getting ready to leave for scotland in a few weeks, and id really like you to come and meet my family!" (i had known about this trip for a while.... and he had hinted that i should get my passport ready cuz he wanted me to come... but he hadnt officially asked me yet... by the way, i was already getting my passport ready hahaha "just in case" lol) with wide eyes i looked at him and before he could even finish i said,"YES YES!!!!! i would love to go!!!!!" he laughed and said "AWESOME" then he looked at me and said somehting i will never forget as long as i live! He said... "So you know how much i love you?" to which i responded that i did.... then he said... "Well i dont want to take you to scotland to meet my family just as my girlfriend.... (by this time im thinking is he proposing??? driving down the road??? HAHAHA --- he wants to take me as his fiance'??? --- NOPE) he says...
"I'd like to take you as my WIFE!... What do ya think?"
My heart was racing.... this felt completely crazy! i looked at him and asked him if he was proposing? He said that he was.... i asked him if he was sure! He said that he was.... and then i told him that i needed a proper proposal! (you know like on one knee and all ;) but that when he did i would surely NOT SAY NO! hehehe
Over our day walking around the inner harbor we talked about what we wanted to do, like when we would get married and how this would all happen before the trip in less than 4 weeks!!
none of that matter though.... because as crazy as it seemed, i was completely head over heals IN LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Later that night he "officially" got down on one knee and asked me... i ofcourse said yes! After talking with his parents they graciously offered to allow us to get married in thier beautiful home, and we decided that July 4th, would be the day....
It was just over 3 weeks away! Everyone thought we were crazy! ha even US at times......
Those 3 weeks were a whirlwind of dresses, and cakes, passport problems and scrabbling to get everything done.... but we tried to soak up every minute! We called each other "fiance'" as many times as we could (since we werent engaged for very long lol) and had as much fun as possible planning our day! Days before i moved out of my apartment and left the single life behind!
Before we knew it the day was here.... i was awake very early, cuz i couldnt wait to get there :) We were married on one of the hottest/humid summer days of 2006 lol and it was THE. BEST. DAY.!!!! a few days later we left for our honeymoon..... Those were the sweetest days.... one of just pur bliss... no worries! completely escaped from real life! Reality would come later.... then it was just US, together on our first adventure as husband and wife!
We thought the hard part was over! ha... but it was really just begining.... but the honeymoon isnt the time for that.... its a time for bliss <3
the struggles came months later.... when i was missing somthing in my life.... it just took me a while to figure out that was my Sweet Saviour!!!!
See the Scotsman and i were "perfect" for each other by every criteria of the world.....but to be honest here!!!
Our relationship shouldnt even have started! and wouldnt had i been walking close to Christ! We didnt believe the same things and had i been walking close to God, i probably wouldnt have even given him a second thought.... But i now know that God has used our relationship, in HUGE ways! About 6 months after our wedding the scotsman accepted christ! what an amazing thing! to be able to sit in our little apartment with him and pray and introduce him to our LORD AND SAVIOUR!!! has our reltionship been easy? HECK NO! we didnt enter into a marriage the way God commands us to.... so there have been consequense, and hardships some that we could have never imagined!! We didnt get to take the easy road, we had to take the hard one... but!!! Are we perfect? NO WAY! but Jesus is working in us.... and i thank HIM everyday for using my foolishness and the time in my life that i was ignoring HIM to bring me someone who has loved me the way that christs loves me!! and the scotsman has shown me that....
Our wedding Day - July 4th, 2006
My Sexy Scotsman waiting for me....
'Til death do us part....
You may know kiss the bride! Woohooo YIPPPEEEE :D:D:D
Baby,
I love you more today than i ever have! You are my best friend, and buddy... I love to talk to you and hang out with you.... You look at me and i feel as thought you are seeing my soul! You are the only person on this side of heaven that knows every part of me... the good the bad and the ugly! you know ALL my struggles and you love me just the same... i often sit and wonder what on earth i ever did to deserve your love! and then i realize... i dont! But God loves me so much, he gave you to me anyway! *tears* I am so humbled by this!! Do we have a perfect relationship? no way... We fight, yell, and argue... We disagree and drive each other bonkers! but through it all our love never fads....
To quote a line from one of our favorite movies... "I'd rather fight with you for the rest of my life, than ever make love to anyone else!" (the wedding date)
I love you Baby, more than anything in this world... and i pray everyday that we will now be a team for christ! that we will be able to live a purpose filled life for our Lord and Saviour!! I am SO excited to see where life takes us.... With you by my side, i can do anything! Thank you for being my biggest Fan, and always cheering me on... No. Matter. What!
I love you so much!!
Always,
Your Pet <3
Mr & Mrs
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
A New Season.....
I will admite i have been struggling.... but not JUST struggling... secretly struggling! The Lord has been prompting me to share for a long while now, but i have been afraid.... afraid of judgement... prideful... etc... and im done! We are suppose to support each other and even tho i am much more "comfortable" being the Supporter.... i cant hide any longer!
*A little background info... i grew up in an envoiroment of extremes.... one day i may share more about my childhood with all of you but thats for another day! One of those extremes i will share is of the financial nature! When i was growing up there was a constant...AND WHEN I SAY CONSTANT, I MEAN CONSTANT!! problem with MONEY!!!!!!!!! creditors calling all the time, lots of credit cards and asking so and so or so and so for more money! it was very unsettling as a child to grow up and from as young as i can remember i was always "worried" about money! your not suppose to wake up in the middle of the night worried about money at 10/12 years old! (this happened constantly throughout my life but 10/12 is the first time i remmeber it happening) i would regularly ask my parental figure that was "whipping" out another credit card to but another somthing or other that they couldnt afford, why they were doing that.... and why not just go home and find something to eat, or to wear and pay the bills??? i either got yelled at for asking or ignored! but i do remember the panic and fear of all of that and as a very young child i made a choice to NOT live that way! When i got my first job it all went in the bank! and i went through a reckless phase when i was in my early 20s, when i was first out on my own... spending all i made and living the "high" life, on a low salary lol... but then i got married!!! and everything changed!!! i couldnt just spend, because it wasnt just my money, and someone else would be effected by my spending habits! so i stopped!! simple as that... My Hubby and our family was WAY more important that STUFF!!!!!!! Praise HIM!!!
So the last 4 years i have worked some, and the hubby has worked some... funny enough one of us has always had a job but never at the same time LOL either i found a job and he lost his, or vise versa.... but we have always been able to provide for ourselves, even if on very little! The last few years (financially) we have been very blessed! The hubby had a good steady job and we were able to live comfortably.... He didnt make much tho, i frequently had people utterly shocked when they found out how much he made at how we were able to live on such an amount! lol and my response has always been the same... we have NO DEBT!!!!!!!! other than our mortgage!!!!! and if we want to do somehting special we save up for it.....very simply if we dont have the money for something, we dont buy it!!!! ive had a lot of pride that i have been able to be a stay at home wife for the last 2+ years, and the hubbs just beamed with the pride of being our provider!!!!! Life Was GOOD!!!!!!
On April 16th, our world came crashing down around us!!!!!!!!!!!! It was a friday, and the last day of work at our home (we had water damage and it forever to get the work done, but this was the last day the carpet guys were installing the carpet and then everything would be done) i was heading to baltimore to spend the day with my family (so i would be out of the carpet guys way) LIFE. WAS. GOOOOD.
Then my phone rang.... i was driving down rt 70. about halfway to baltimore and it was andrew... my first thought was, this was a werid time for him to be calling me! and my second thought? that my husband didnt sound good at all!!! i had a sense of dread building inside of me, as he was silent for a moment.... he asked me where i was, and if i wanted to come and get him? (mind you it was like 10am) nervous and not really hearing or understand what he was saying i said "NO... I DO NOT WANT TO COME AND GET YOU!?!?! LOL" he laughed that little nervous laugh he does right before he cries... and i had tears well up and began to cry without even knowing why, i began to look for an exit that would allow me to turn around!!!!!!
I fought the urge to ask him why i needed to come and get him, but eventually gave in and asked... as his voice quivered as he told me, he was standing with a box of his belongings outside of his office! HE. HAD. BEEN. FIRED.....
it was all i could do to keep control of the car! i wanted to scream! we prayed together and i told him i would get there as soon as i could.... *now friends i have to tell you my husband is a VERY hard worker! and that had we been paying attention, we should have been sort of prepared for this... The Enemy (you know who i mean ;) had been attacking him at work for years, and making his work enviroment VERY unpleasant! infact we had been praying for the Lord to deliver him from this bad work enviroment (& his communte of 2 hrs each way on a train) for almost a year. but ofcourse we were praying for a new job! (our plans not HIS!)
My life... my safe, comfy, life... changed forever that day! did we have financial worries before that day? sure... we never had a large income! But we had an income! and we knew how blessed we were to have it.... and no matter how unhappy hubby was at this job he rejoiced at the blessing of the job!
the first few days we spent only thinking about that day! the future was too scary.... and i didnt tell anyone aside from a few close family and friends because i thought for sure God would "swoop in and save the day" right away!! i think i knew all along this was going to be a new season of our lives but i was just hoping it would be just a blip...
Here we are 4 weeks later, thousands and thousands of resumes sent out.... and not really any leads! I was very sick the last few weeks and finally admited to the hospital last week... ever since i came home i have been extremely depressed!!! its all really been getting to me... i have felt the Lord urging me to "come out of hiding" so to speak... and share my struggles! but i have been afraid! i have ignored his urges, and argued with him when i couldnt ignore.... Dont get me wrong friends... i believe whole heartedly that HE has an awesome plan! I know he is with us... im just grieving i think, all the security that we've lost! i can easily handle living wihtout cable or AC/heat, special foods or going shopping or to the movies...etc... but without health insurance?? or being able to pay our mortgage??? THATS. SCARY..... and above all the health insurance and mortgage...etc... my biggest fear is we will "miss" an opportunity to parent or a possible adoption will fall through because of all of this... i have felt we were SO close the last few months and now we feel so far... way
i have felt like a fraud the last few weeks talking to all of you and "acting" like everything was "fine".... so now you know! things are far from it!
We are VERY grateful that we had some money set aside (not much by any means tho) and are very grateful that we have found a wonderful church family!! But we need PRAYERS. SO SO MANY!!! prayers for stregnth, and courage, and wisdom, and faith... and so on.... Prayers for my husband to keep his head held high, even tho time are harder than harder! for him not to take on the "BLAME" for all of this... He is a wonderful man, and i could not be prouder to call him my husband!!!!!!!
So for now, we strive to make good choices, and cling as close as we can to the Father!! Pray. and wait. for our Mountain-Moving GOD too MOVE!!!!!!!
*i wrote this a few days ago and just this morning Andrew went and checked the mail... he said there was only one lonely envelope in the mail box with no return address! he opened in and it said "from all of us" and there was 200$ IN IT!!!!!!! no name or anything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU ABBA!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!
*A little background info... i grew up in an envoiroment of extremes.... one day i may share more about my childhood with all of you but thats for another day! One of those extremes i will share is of the financial nature! When i was growing up there was a constant...AND WHEN I SAY CONSTANT, I MEAN CONSTANT!! problem with MONEY!!!!!!!!! creditors calling all the time, lots of credit cards and asking so and so or so and so for more money! it was very unsettling as a child to grow up and from as young as i can remember i was always "worried" about money! your not suppose to wake up in the middle of the night worried about money at 10/12 years old! (this happened constantly throughout my life but 10/12 is the first time i remmeber it happening) i would regularly ask my parental figure that was "whipping" out another credit card to but another somthing or other that they couldnt afford, why they were doing that.... and why not just go home and find something to eat, or to wear and pay the bills??? i either got yelled at for asking or ignored! but i do remember the panic and fear of all of that and as a very young child i made a choice to NOT live that way! When i got my first job it all went in the bank! and i went through a reckless phase when i was in my early 20s, when i was first out on my own... spending all i made and living the "high" life, on a low salary lol... but then i got married!!! and everything changed!!! i couldnt just spend, because it wasnt just my money, and someone else would be effected by my spending habits! so i stopped!! simple as that... My Hubby and our family was WAY more important that STUFF!!!!!!! Praise HIM!!!
So the last 4 years i have worked some, and the hubby has worked some... funny enough one of us has always had a job but never at the same time LOL either i found a job and he lost his, or vise versa.... but we have always been able to provide for ourselves, even if on very little! The last few years (financially) we have been very blessed! The hubby had a good steady job and we were able to live comfortably.... He didnt make much tho, i frequently had people utterly shocked when they found out how much he made at how we were able to live on such an amount! lol and my response has always been the same... we have NO DEBT!!!!!!!! other than our mortgage!!!!! and if we want to do somehting special we save up for it.....very simply if we dont have the money for something, we dont buy it!!!! ive had a lot of pride that i have been able to be a stay at home wife for the last 2+ years, and the hubbs just beamed with the pride of being our provider!!!!! Life Was GOOD!!!!!!
On April 16th, our world came crashing down around us!!!!!!!!!!!! It was a friday, and the last day of work at our home (we had water damage and it forever to get the work done, but this was the last day the carpet guys were installing the carpet and then everything would be done) i was heading to baltimore to spend the day with my family (so i would be out of the carpet guys way) LIFE. WAS. GOOOOD.
Then my phone rang.... i was driving down rt 70. about halfway to baltimore and it was andrew... my first thought was, this was a werid time for him to be calling me! and my second thought? that my husband didnt sound good at all!!! i had a sense of dread building inside of me, as he was silent for a moment.... he asked me where i was, and if i wanted to come and get him? (mind you it was like 10am) nervous and not really hearing or understand what he was saying i said "NO... I DO NOT WANT TO COME AND GET YOU!?!?! LOL" he laughed that little nervous laugh he does right before he cries... and i had tears well up and began to cry without even knowing why, i began to look for an exit that would allow me to turn around!!!!!!
I fought the urge to ask him why i needed to come and get him, but eventually gave in and asked... as his voice quivered as he told me, he was standing with a box of his belongings outside of his office! HE. HAD. BEEN. FIRED.....
it was all i could do to keep control of the car! i wanted to scream! we prayed together and i told him i would get there as soon as i could.... *now friends i have to tell you my husband is a VERY hard worker! and that had we been paying attention, we should have been sort of prepared for this... The Enemy (you know who i mean ;) had been attacking him at work for years, and making his work enviroment VERY unpleasant! infact we had been praying for the Lord to deliver him from this bad work enviroment (& his communte of 2 hrs each way on a train) for almost a year. but ofcourse we were praying for a new job! (our plans not HIS!)
My life... my safe, comfy, life... changed forever that day! did we have financial worries before that day? sure... we never had a large income! But we had an income! and we knew how blessed we were to have it.... and no matter how unhappy hubby was at this job he rejoiced at the blessing of the job!
the first few days we spent only thinking about that day! the future was too scary.... and i didnt tell anyone aside from a few close family and friends because i thought for sure God would "swoop in and save the day" right away!! i think i knew all along this was going to be a new season of our lives but i was just hoping it would be just a blip...
Here we are 4 weeks later, thousands and thousands of resumes sent out.... and not really any leads! I was very sick the last few weeks and finally admited to the hospital last week... ever since i came home i have been extremely depressed!!! its all really been getting to me... i have felt the Lord urging me to "come out of hiding" so to speak... and share my struggles! but i have been afraid! i have ignored his urges, and argued with him when i couldnt ignore.... Dont get me wrong friends... i believe whole heartedly that HE has an awesome plan! I know he is with us... im just grieving i think, all the security that we've lost! i can easily handle living wihtout cable or AC/heat, special foods or going shopping or to the movies...etc... but without health insurance?? or being able to pay our mortgage??? THATS. SCARY..... and above all the health insurance and mortgage...etc... my biggest fear is we will "miss" an opportunity to parent or a possible adoption will fall through because of all of this... i have felt we were SO close the last few months and now we feel so far... way
i have felt like a fraud the last few weeks talking to all of you and "acting" like everything was "fine".... so now you know! things are far from it!
We are VERY grateful that we had some money set aside (not much by any means tho) and are very grateful that we have found a wonderful church family!! But we need PRAYERS. SO SO MANY!!! prayers for stregnth, and courage, and wisdom, and faith... and so on.... Prayers for my husband to keep his head held high, even tho time are harder than harder! for him not to take on the "BLAME" for all of this... He is a wonderful man, and i could not be prouder to call him my husband!!!!!!!
So for now, we strive to make good choices, and cling as close as we can to the Father!! Pray. and wait. for our Mountain-Moving GOD too MOVE!!!!!!!
*i wrote this a few days ago and just this morning Andrew went and checked the mail... he said there was only one lonely envelope in the mail box with no return address! he opened in and it said "from all of us" and there was 200$ IN IT!!!!!!! no name or anything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU ABBA!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!
Monday, May 17, 2010
Paying it Forward
I am posting this via - Courtney from "Storing up Treasures" (see link below) She and her husband have completely followed Gods command to care for the orphan and are the proud parents to 10 children, 4 of which (i believe) are adopted!! Please read through this and consider donating 5$ or even 10$... WE are one of the 26 families that will be helped by your selfless donation!! Lets come together and Ransom all of these babies into the loving arms of thier families!!!!
Paying it Forward
Since we have been so blessed by the generosity of others, we have decided that we want to pay it forward. We are passionate about adoption. Not just our own family adopting, but the countless families who are opening their hearts and homes to precious orphans around the world.
After much thought and discussion, we have come up with a campaign to help other adoptive families struggling to raise funds for their adoptions. The campaign will begin today and will end after 20 days {June 4th}. We are calling it "10K in 20 days".
If you are an adoptive family in need of funds for your adoption, we invite you to enter. We are only allowing 26 families to participate and EVERY family will be awarded money for their adoption. You need to act fast because we can ONLY take the first 26, homestudy ready families.
If you have a heart for adoption or you just want the chance to get some cool giveaways, I encourage you to come on over and enter. We are giving away loads of things, but you have to enter to be eligible!
Go to our Campaign Page HERE to learn more and PLEASE help spread the word. If you know someone who could use help with their adoption, please send them over there to enter. We need as many people helping to get this off the ground as possible. So tweet about it, facebook it, and blog about it. Help us pay it forward!
Oh and if you have a business or Etsy shop and would like to promote your shop by donating an item of gift certificate to our donor prizes, please contact me!{passionate4orphans@yahoo.com} I would love to help grow your business in addition to being able to offer great giveaways to encourage more donations!
~Courtney
Paying it Forward
Since we have been so blessed by the generosity of others, we have decided that we want to pay it forward. We are passionate about adoption. Not just our own family adopting, but the countless families who are opening their hearts and homes to precious orphans around the world.
After much thought and discussion, we have come up with a campaign to help other adoptive families struggling to raise funds for their adoptions. The campaign will begin today and will end after 20 days {June 4th}. We are calling it "10K in 20 days".
If you are an adoptive family in need of funds for your adoption, we invite you to enter. We are only allowing 26 families to participate and EVERY family will be awarded money for their adoption. You need to act fast because we can ONLY take the first 26, homestudy ready families.
If you have a heart for adoption or you just want the chance to get some cool giveaways, I encourage you to come on over and enter. We are giving away loads of things, but you have to enter to be eligible!
Go to our Campaign Page HERE to learn more and PLEASE help spread the word. If you know someone who could use help with their adoption, please send them over there to enter. We need as many people helping to get this off the ground as possible. So tweet about it, facebook it, and blog about it. Help us pay it forward!
Oh and if you have a business or Etsy shop and would like to promote your shop by donating an item of gift certificate to our donor prizes, please contact me!{passionate4orphans@yahoo.com} I would love to help grow your business in addition to being able to offer great giveaways to encourage more donations!
~Courtney
Thursday, April 29, 2010
God vs. Science.... AWESOME!!!
In hopes that all our college students are able to articulate this
well.
In a College classroom with a professor teaching a philosophy
lesson.......
'Let me explain the problem science has with religion.'
The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then
asks one of his new students to stand.
'You're a Christian, aren't you, son?'
'Yes sir,' the student says.
'So you believe in God?'
'Absolutely.. '
'Is God good?'
'Sure! God's good.'
'Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?'
'Yes'
'Are you good or evil?'
'The Bible says I'm evil.'
The professor grins knowingly. 'Aha! The Bible! He considers for a
moment. 'Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here
and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?'
'Yes sir, I would.'
'So you're good...!'
'I wouldn't say that.'
'But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you
could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't.'
The student does not answer, so the professor continues.
'He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer,
even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Can
you answer that one?'
The student remains silent.
'No, you can't, can you?' the professor says. He takes a sip of water
from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax. 'Let's
start again, young fella. Is God good?'
'Er..yes,' the student says.
'Is Satan good?'
The student doesn't hesitate on this one. 'No.'
'Then where does Satan come from?'
The student falters. 'From God'
'That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil
in this world?'
'Yes, sir.'
'Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?'
'Yes'
'So who created evil?' The professor continued, 'If God created
everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to
the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil.'
Again, the student has no answer.
'Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible
things, do they exist in this world?'
The student squirms on his feet.
'Yes.'
'So who created them?'
The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his
question. 'Who created them?' There is still no answer. Suddenly the
lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is
mesmerized. 'Tell me,' he continues onto another student. 'Do you
believe in Jesus Christ, son?'
The student's voice betrays him and cracks.
'Yes, professor, I do.'
The old man stops pacing. 'Science says you have five senses you use to
identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?'
'No sir.. I've never seen Him.'
'Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?'
'No, sir, I have not.'
'Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus?
Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for
that matter?'
'No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't..'
'Yet you still believe in him?'
'Yes'
'According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol,
science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?'
'Nothing,' the student replies. 'I only have my faith.'
'Yes, faith,' the professor repeats. 'And that is the problem science
has with God. There is no evidence, only faith.'
The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of
His own.
'Professor, is there such thing as heat?'
' Yes.
'And is there such a thing as cold?'
'Yes, son, there's cold too.'
'No sir, there isn't.'
The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The
room suddenly becomes very quiet.
The student begins to explain.
'You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat,
unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have
anything called 'cold'. We can hit down to 458 degrees below zero,
which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no
such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the
lowest -458 degrees. Every body or object is susceptible to study when
it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter
have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of
heat.
You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of
heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units
because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the
absence of it..'
Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom,
sounding like a hammer.
'What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?'
'Yes,' the professor replies without hesitation. 'What is night if it
isn't darkness?'
'You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence
of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light,
flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing
and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define
the word. In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to
make darkness darker, wouldn't you?'
The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will
be a good semester.
'So what point are you making, young man?'
'Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to
start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed.'
The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. 'Flawed?
Can you explain how?'
'You are working on the premise of duality,' the student explains..
'You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a
bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite,
something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought.'
'It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully
understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be
ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing.
Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it.' 'Now tell
me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a
monkey?'
'If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man,
yes, of course I do.'
'Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?'
The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes
where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.
'Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and
cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you
not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a
preacher?'
The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion
has subsided.
'To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student,
let me give you an example of what I mean.' The student looks around
the room. 'Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the
professor's brain?' The class breaks out into laughter. 'Is there
anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the
professor's brain, touched or smelt the professor's brain? No one
appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of
empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no
brain, with all due respect, sir.' 'So if science says you have no
brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?'
Now the room is silent.. The professor just stares at the student, his
face unreadable. Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man
answers. 'I Guess you'll have to take them on faith.'
'Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with
life,' the student continues. 'Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?'
Now uncertain, the professor responds, 'Of course, there is. We see it
Everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man.. It is
in The multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These
manifestations are nothing else but evil.'
To this the student replied, 'Evil does not exist sir, or at least it
does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is
just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe
the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what
happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's
like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that
comes when there is no light.'
The professor sat down.
If you read it all the way through and had a smile on your face when
you finished, mail to your friends and family with the title 'God vs
Science'
PS: The student was Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein wrote a book titled God vs Science in 1921...
well.
In a College classroom with a professor teaching a philosophy
lesson.......
'Let me explain the problem science has with religion.'
The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then
asks one of his new students to stand.
'You're a Christian, aren't you, son?'
'Yes sir,' the student says.
'So you believe in God?'
'Absolutely.. '
'Is God good?'
'Sure! God's good.'
'Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?'
'Yes'
'Are you good or evil?'
'The Bible says I'm evil.'
The professor grins knowingly. 'Aha! The Bible! He considers for a
moment. 'Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here
and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?'
'Yes sir, I would.'
'So you're good...!'
'I wouldn't say that.'
'But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you
could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't.'
The student does not answer, so the professor continues.
'He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer,
even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Can
you answer that one?'
The student remains silent.
'No, you can't, can you?' the professor says. He takes a sip of water
from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax. 'Let's
start again, young fella. Is God good?'
'Er..yes,' the student says.
'Is Satan good?'
The student doesn't hesitate on this one. 'No.'
'Then where does Satan come from?'
The student falters. 'From God'
'That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil
in this world?'
'Yes, sir.'
'Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?'
'Yes'
'So who created evil?' The professor continued, 'If God created
everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to
the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil.'
Again, the student has no answer.
'Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible
things, do they exist in this world?'
The student squirms on his feet.
'Yes.'
'So who created them?'
The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his
question. 'Who created them?' There is still no answer. Suddenly the
lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is
mesmerized. 'Tell me,' he continues onto another student. 'Do you
believe in Jesus Christ, son?'
The student's voice betrays him and cracks.
'Yes, professor, I do.'
The old man stops pacing. 'Science says you have five senses you use to
identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?'
'No sir.. I've never seen Him.'
'Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?'
'No, sir, I have not.'
'Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus?
Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for
that matter?'
'No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't..'
'Yet you still believe in him?'
'Yes'
'According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol,
science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?'
'Nothing,' the student replies. 'I only have my faith.'
'Yes, faith,' the professor repeats. 'And that is the problem science
has with God. There is no evidence, only faith.'
The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of
His own.
'Professor, is there such thing as heat?'
' Yes.
'And is there such a thing as cold?'
'Yes, son, there's cold too.'
'No sir, there isn't.'
The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The
room suddenly becomes very quiet.
The student begins to explain.
'You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat,
unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have
anything called 'cold'. We can hit down to 458 degrees below zero,
which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no
such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the
lowest -458 degrees. Every body or object is susceptible to study when
it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter
have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of
heat.
You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of
heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units
because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the
absence of it..'
Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom,
sounding like a hammer.
'What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?'
'Yes,' the professor replies without hesitation. 'What is night if it
isn't darkness?'
'You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence
of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light,
flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing
and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define
the word. In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to
make darkness darker, wouldn't you?'
The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will
be a good semester.
'So what point are you making, young man?'
'Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to
start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed.'
The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. 'Flawed?
Can you explain how?'
'You are working on the premise of duality,' the student explains..
'You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a
bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite,
something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought.'
'It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully
understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be
ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing.
Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it.' 'Now tell
me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a
monkey?'
'If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man,
yes, of course I do.'
'Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?'
The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes
where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.
'Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and
cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you
not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a
preacher?'
The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion
has subsided.
'To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student,
let me give you an example of what I mean.' The student looks around
the room. 'Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the
professor's brain?' The class breaks out into laughter. 'Is there
anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the
professor's brain, touched or smelt the professor's brain? No one
appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of
empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no
brain, with all due respect, sir.' 'So if science says you have no
brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?'
Now the room is silent.. The professor just stares at the student, his
face unreadable. Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man
answers. 'I Guess you'll have to take them on faith.'
'Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with
life,' the student continues. 'Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?'
Now uncertain, the professor responds, 'Of course, there is. We see it
Everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man.. It is
in The multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These
manifestations are nothing else but evil.'
To this the student replied, 'Evil does not exist sir, or at least it
does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is
just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe
the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what
happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's
like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that
comes when there is no light.'
The professor sat down.
If you read it all the way through and had a smile on your face when
you finished, mail to your friends and family with the title 'God vs
Science'
PS: The student was Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein wrote a book titled God vs Science in 1921...
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
NEVER Give UP!!!!!
God Bless this man!! There is always HOPE in Jesus Christ!!
How r YOU Going to Finish???
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Lord, Break our Hearts for what Breaks YOURS!!!! - Are you heartbroken???
I have been really convincted lately.... although i havent been sure of what i was being convicted about lol i have felt really "heartbroken" about a lot of different things that never bothered my like this before....
Now ive always had a heart for children, expecially suffering children! but i used to see images and just shake my head and say to myself... "ooo isnt that aweful" and then move on....
But lately these images have left me weeping! ive been kinda down lately and sad. And i was associating it with the frusteration of our adoption journey, or the stress of trying to get our home fixed or other "life" stressors....
BUT just now i was praying and crying... even now im fighting back tears... and i felt the Lord shake me and wake me up!!!!!!! ....
He said to me, "WHY ARE YOU ASKING ME TO MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER?!?!?! YOU ASKED ME TO BREAK YOUR HEART FOR WHAT BREAKS MINE, AND THAT IS WHAT I AM DOING!!!!!!!!!!!!"
I am so humbled.... ive been so blind!!!!! Please forgive my Lord!!!!! and that is when i had to stop what i was doing and write this blog.... this isnt a "comfortable" blog to write, but i feel that i must write it!! this life isnt about being comfortable, its about listening and obeying my Savior!!!! this isnt about ME (or me talking abt what im "doing" or arent doing).... its about HIM or only HIM!!!!!!
"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in." Matthew 25:35
Did you catch that??? for every person who is hungry in this world and we feed, we've feed our Lord and Savior!!!!! WOAH!!!!! i have been (admittedly subconciously at first) taking this extrememly seriously lately.... finding myself crying when i see a needy walking in the rain, or a child on the street.... how can we walk past a child or an adult that is in need and not help??? that is our sweet Jesus!!!! His heart is with the needy.... so when we help them, we help Him!!!! i have felt my whole life that i shouldnt give money to the homeless on the streets because "theyd probably but drugs or alcohal anyway" [what a pressumtion that is!] and who am i to pressume that anyway!!???!!! Is Almighty God not in control of all of it anyway??? Is it not his money anyway??? Would HE not give that man ALL HE had??? this realization is very humbling, and eye opening!!! Its not our money in the first place... WOW!!! So "OUR" plans for how to use the money doesnt matter... because it isnt ours!!!
the only plans that matter our HIS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Have you used "your" HIS money, for HIM?? and HIS purposes?? i know i havent done nearly what he have me do... i am WAY too concerned with the material things i "want"... and i am DONE being concerned with such insignificant things... i am praying that he change my outlook and my heart!
Our Sweet Jesus will supply all our needs... So our concern needs to be HIS needs!!!!!!! There are people all over the world that are DIEING everyday from things like diarriha, and a stuffy nose... DIEING!!!! CHILDREN DIEING FROM A STUFFY NOSE!!!!
The hubby and i have felt we'd like to "sponsor" a child for sometime now... but ill admit we were going into it for some selfish reasons... So WE could do some good!! Well we actually did it a few days ago, and ever since we saw those faces and got more specific information... those are now OUR children!!! the feelings that we once had for the suffering have now come right up into our living room... they are no longer some distance countries problem! they are our childrens problems!! and it completely breaks my heart *tears* We have decided together that whenever we get a raise in income or adopt a new baby we will commit to sponsor a new child.... its very frusterating to me that there are so many children waiting...
they cant go to school, or eat, or hear that they are precious and wanted!! EVER!!! or more important than all of these... They most likely have NO opportunity to hear who Jesus is and that HE loves them!!!!!! these are precious souls that need to know the love of christ and know that they are beautiful and fearfully and wonderfully made!!!
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart" - Jeremiah 1:5
and if this is making you feel uncomfortable??? GOOD!! he wants us to get uncomfortable for him....
Think with me for a second.... What do you spend 38$ a month on??? 38$....
I know that there are lots of things i spend 38$ on... like, lunch out, a couple pedicures, or a few lattes... how bout the newpaper?? or how bout clothes that i really dont need... dinners out... even grocery items that are "luxeries".... or getting our DOGS GROOMED!!! (it is horrific to me that the pets in this country have a MUCH better life than most of the children of the world! ANIMALS LIVE BETTER THAN THESE PRECIOUS BABIES!!!!!!!!!)..... books.... wasted gas spent just "going for a ride".... a haircut.... cell phone over usage fees.... i could go on and on!!
When i think about it... do i really NEED!!!! any of these things??? when its the same amount of money every month just to have basic nessecities!!!!! Do i have a right to a pedicure ( or any thing else), without giving... when there are children dying in the world from starvation???????????? NO... NO i dont!!!
No you may be thinking "we cant save them all!" YOU ARE RIGHT!! WE cant!! but everyone you help... it SURE DOES MATTER TO THAT ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT CHANGES THIER LIVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! which in turn changes thier families lives, and thier villages lives... and so on...
they are many many organizations! but the one that has really got me is Compassion International! You can write to your child, get pictures and info about them... make them apart of your family!!! Sometimes your words of "you are beautiful, you matter to me, and I love you" are the only times these precious children EVER hear these things!!
BE the voice of Jesus to these precious babies!!!
Releasing Children from poverty in Jesus Name!!!
http://www.compassion.com
What does HE want you to do??? I dare you to ask him, truely ask him... and i DARE you to LISTEN and OBEY WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU!!!! i promise the impact on your life with be FAR FAR reaching!!!
Love & Blessings
Liz
Now ive always had a heart for children, expecially suffering children! but i used to see images and just shake my head and say to myself... "ooo isnt that aweful" and then move on....
But lately these images have left me weeping! ive been kinda down lately and sad. And i was associating it with the frusteration of our adoption journey, or the stress of trying to get our home fixed or other "life" stressors....
BUT just now i was praying and crying... even now im fighting back tears... and i felt the Lord shake me and wake me up!!!!!!! ....
He said to me, "WHY ARE YOU ASKING ME TO MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER?!?!?! YOU ASKED ME TO BREAK YOUR HEART FOR WHAT BREAKS MINE, AND THAT IS WHAT I AM DOING!!!!!!!!!!!!"
I am so humbled.... ive been so blind!!!!! Please forgive my Lord!!!!! and that is when i had to stop what i was doing and write this blog.... this isnt a "comfortable" blog to write, but i feel that i must write it!! this life isnt about being comfortable, its about listening and obeying my Savior!!!! this isnt about ME (or me talking abt what im "doing" or arent doing).... its about HIM or only HIM!!!!!!
"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in." Matthew 25:35
Did you catch that??? for every person who is hungry in this world and we feed, we've feed our Lord and Savior!!!!! WOAH!!!!! i have been (admittedly subconciously at first) taking this extrememly seriously lately.... finding myself crying when i see a needy walking in the rain, or a child on the street.... how can we walk past a child or an adult that is in need and not help??? that is our sweet Jesus!!!! His heart is with the needy.... so when we help them, we help Him!!!! i have felt my whole life that i shouldnt give money to the homeless on the streets because "theyd probably but drugs or alcohal anyway" [what a pressumtion that is!] and who am i to pressume that anyway!!???!!! Is Almighty God not in control of all of it anyway??? Is it not his money anyway??? Would HE not give that man ALL HE had??? this realization is very humbling, and eye opening!!! Its not our money in the first place... WOW!!! So "OUR" plans for how to use the money doesnt matter... because it isnt ours!!!
the only plans that matter our HIS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Have you used "your" HIS money, for HIM?? and HIS purposes?? i know i havent done nearly what he have me do... i am WAY too concerned with the material things i "want"... and i am DONE being concerned with such insignificant things... i am praying that he change my outlook and my heart!
Our Sweet Jesus will supply all our needs... So our concern needs to be HIS needs!!!!!!! There are people all over the world that are DIEING everyday from things like diarriha, and a stuffy nose... DIEING!!!! CHILDREN DIEING FROM A STUFFY NOSE!!!!
The hubby and i have felt we'd like to "sponsor" a child for sometime now... but ill admit we were going into it for some selfish reasons... So WE could do some good!! Well we actually did it a few days ago, and ever since we saw those faces and got more specific information... those are now OUR children!!! the feelings that we once had for the suffering have now come right up into our living room... they are no longer some distance countries problem! they are our childrens problems!! and it completely breaks my heart *tears* We have decided together that whenever we get a raise in income or adopt a new baby we will commit to sponsor a new child.... its very frusterating to me that there are so many children waiting...
they cant go to school, or eat, or hear that they are precious and wanted!! EVER!!! or more important than all of these... They most likely have NO opportunity to hear who Jesus is and that HE loves them!!!!!! these are precious souls that need to know the love of christ and know that they are beautiful and fearfully and wonderfully made!!!
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart" - Jeremiah 1:5
and if this is making you feel uncomfortable??? GOOD!! he wants us to get uncomfortable for him....
Think with me for a second.... What do you spend 38$ a month on??? 38$....
I know that there are lots of things i spend 38$ on... like, lunch out, a couple pedicures, or a few lattes... how bout the newpaper?? or how bout clothes that i really dont need... dinners out... even grocery items that are "luxeries".... or getting our DOGS GROOMED!!! (it is horrific to me that the pets in this country have a MUCH better life than most of the children of the world! ANIMALS LIVE BETTER THAN THESE PRECIOUS BABIES!!!!!!!!!)..... books.... wasted gas spent just "going for a ride".... a haircut.... cell phone over usage fees.... i could go on and on!!
When i think about it... do i really NEED!!!! any of these things??? when its the same amount of money every month just to have basic nessecities!!!!! Do i have a right to a pedicure ( or any thing else), without giving... when there are children dying in the world from starvation???????????? NO... NO i dont!!!
No you may be thinking "we cant save them all!" YOU ARE RIGHT!! WE cant!! but everyone you help... it SURE DOES MATTER TO THAT ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT CHANGES THIER LIVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! which in turn changes thier families lives, and thier villages lives... and so on...
they are many many organizations! but the one that has really got me is Compassion International! You can write to your child, get pictures and info about them... make them apart of your family!!! Sometimes your words of "you are beautiful, you matter to me, and I love you" are the only times these precious children EVER hear these things!!
BE the voice of Jesus to these precious babies!!!
Releasing Children from poverty in Jesus Name!!!
http://www.compassion.com
What does HE want you to do??? I dare you to ask him, truely ask him... and i DARE you to LISTEN and OBEY WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU!!!! i promise the impact on your life with be FAR FAR reaching!!!
Love & Blessings
Liz
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