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!!!!!!!!!!!

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

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...

NEVER Give UP!!!!!

God Bless this man!! There is always HOPE in Jesus Christ!!


How r YOU Going to Finish???

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

Fasting...

The hubby and i have been Fasting now for 30 days! We are doing a partial extremely restrictive fast... Our fast will conclude on thursday as we committed to the month of march. I have had Many people send me questions about fasting, and i dont have very good answers to give... ill be honest this is my fist fast (i know its a lot to take on for the 1st one... but hey Go BIG or GO HOME!!! ;o) so i found this list of explinations with scripture....

I thought this summary by Richard LaFountain was very helpful in summarizing some of the questions I get about fasting!

Fasting is going without food to pursue and/or focus on something more important.

1. Fasting helps subject our bodies to our spirits. (I Cor 9:27)

2. Fasting is disciplining the body, mind, and spirit. (Prov. 25:28)

3. Fasting is subordinating our flesh-desires to our spirit-desires. (Gal 5:17)

4. Fasting helps set the priorities in our lives. (Mt 6:33)

5. Fasting is longing after God. (Ps 63:1-2)


Why Should We Fast?

1. Honor God -
Mt 6:16-18, Luke 2:37, Acts 13:2, Mt 5:6

2. Humble Yourself -
2 Chron 7:14-15

3. Discerning Healing -
I Cor 11:30, James 5:13-18, Isaiah 59:1-2

4. Deliverance from Bondage -
Mt 17:21, Is 58:6-9 (loose bands of wickedness)

5. Revelation - God’s vision and will -
Dan 9:3, 20-21, Dan 10:2-10, 12-13

6. Revival - personal and corporate -
Acts 1:4, 14 / 2:16-21, Joel 2:12-18

7. Repentance - personal failures -
Psalm 51: Jer. 29:11-14, James 4:8-10

We started this journey to pray over our adoption and God has MOVED in SO many ways in our lives the last 29 days!!!! We both feel like completely different people... my outlook on life has changed completely and i am so grateful!!! We have found our church family, WoooHoooo and have become much closer to one another and our Heavenly Father!!! We have also made some increadible strides in our adoption journey.... HE has brought some AWESOME people in the adoption world across our path!! PRAISE HIM!!!! We have also had some physical benefits too.... I have lost 16.5 lbs & the Hubby 13lbs... a definate AWESOME bounus to this awesome awesome month that we will forever remember!!! As our fast draws to a close.... my "flesh" is excited lol but my spirit is extremely heavy.... it has been a challenge, but SO SO SO rewarding, we are forever changed!!! If you feel your being called to Fast... DO IT!!! dont think abt it "JUST DO IT"!!!! it will forever change you, for the BETTER!!!! :D:D:D

[the specific fast we participated in was The Daniel Fast]

http://daniel-fast.com/about.html

this is a great link to How to fast...

http://www.ccci.org/training-and-growth/devotional-life/7-steps-to-fasting/01-personal-guide.htm

Memorial Box Monday - Crazy Love

Over and over again God told the Isrealites to take stones and build a memorial to remember what He had done. They were to tell the stories to their children and their children's children. Why did He do that? Because He knew just how forgetful people are, and He wants us to remember that He is always loving, always protective, always providing, always caring, always and forever faithful. [taken from A Place Called Simplicity... http://aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/


This is my first Memorial Box monday post and i am SUPER excited to write it!! I have wanted to start doing them for a while, and am so glad i have a GREAT blessing to discuss today!! First tho ill explain briefly what a Memorial Box is... It is a box that can be placed in your home to place little "reminders" in of how God has worked in your life... preferably it is in the main part of your home and is open in the front or has glass doors so that when you have guests it gives you a great opportunity to share God's love and provision with your friends and family!!! How cool is that?? :)

So this Monday our fist Memorial Box Monday post. I want to tell you abt somthing that happened quite recently... just this past friday afternoon actually...

The day before Linny [the author of the blog mentioned above] challenged all of her blog readers to a Crazy Love challenge - which i explained in a previous blog...

Her post struck a fire in me and i wanted to be apart of it... but didnt know if i could, after all we ourselves our in a time of great need in our family! How could i help?? so i went to bed that night and all night i felt the Lord speaking to me... "Liz YOU have to do somthing... NOWWWWWWW!!!" the next day i thought abt it all some more and got caught up in the daily chores, but her post kept coming back to me... around 2pm in the afternoon i sat down to check my emails and i happened across her post again.... and as i was reading it for the second time, i felt the intense urge to ACT!!! so i went to my knees... i was praying for the Lord to tell me what he have me do... and almost immediately i knew that he wanted me to give! and then i began to pray for him to show me who i was to give to... by this time there were SO many blogs of people who were in need! How would i choose Lord?? and his anwser??? "i dont have to choose, because since they all have a need i will give to them ALL!!!"

"ummm wait a minute Lord... ALL of them???????????? WHAT??????????????? how on earth will i do that?????????" and then i realized what a dumb question that was... He is GOD, if he wants to make somthing happen HE WILL!!! so then i began to pray (admittedly terrified of his response...) "ok Lord i will give to everyone... but how much??" and his response left me very UNCOMFORTABLE, if youve read the post before this one we have great needs right now (which btw- after reading all the others needs, i realize our need really isnt that Great...thank you jesus)

He revealed to me that i was to go through ALL of the Blogs and give $5.00 to each one!!!! i will shamefully admit that i argued and stamped my feet a little.... at the time there were abt 30 posts listed... 30 x 5 = 150$... that is ALOT of money to us right now... ALOT ALOT!!! So i went to my paypal account to see what i had in there.... 122$.... "ok Lord well i will give what i can but i cant empty my account and i dont have enought to give EVERYONE 5$" then i realized that again i was limiting My HUGE AWESOME God to the means of this world... and i was extremely humbled and asked him to forgive me...

So i went back to the list... and started with the first... i read it then went to the little "donate" button and gave 5$... and the 2nd, 3rd, 4th... and so on.... Some didnt have buttons for instant donations so to those i sent a comment or an email requesting thier address to i could mail it to them...

I was going through these story and donating, and before long i was completely wrapped up in the stories and the people and the Joy i was recieving from allow the Lord to use me... Very humbling!!! suddenly i realised i was on the 20somthingth post... i paniced and thought [i dont think i have enough money in there for all of this... i wasnt sure whether paypal would let me overdrawl and charge me or whether they would just stop me when i didnt have enough... and what if i did spend every cent??? would they close my account if it were empty??? - i remembered what a pain it was to open it in the first place] i wanted to stop and go and check me account, but as if someone was yelling at me, i felt the Lord speaking through every fiber of my being... "TRUST ME!!!!" so i continued..... sending donations writing emails and sending comments... praying for these people right then and there... families who were adopting like us, some who lost thier jobs, some heading for forclosure, and some heading into the mission field... amazing people, living amazing lives!!!

i got to post 32 the last one... (yes 2 more than i had originally calculated) and worried i went and checked my account...



AND WHAT TO MY WONDERING EYES DID APPREAR?????



THE AMOUNT WAS ALMOST EXACTLY THE SAME AS BEFORE I STARTED GIVING.... foolishly i was extremely confused and went to check and see if there was a delay in processing all the donations... but nope there wasnt!! and that is when i noticed that a total of about 8 people....





HAD GIVE US OVER 100$$$$$




i feel to my knees crying... realizing that God just wanted me to trust him!! and follow his commands! over the course of the next 48 hours.... we got more donations and now the balance in my paypal account is exactly the same as before!!!!

This was a VERY eye opening exp. for me!!!! i have always tried to have GREAT FAITH!!! but sometimes its hard for my little human mind to grasp.... i now know with every single fiber of my being that NOTHING IS IMPOSIBLE WITH GOD!!!!!!!!!!!! he has shown me in a tangile way... and i am forever grateful!!!

This Crazy Love challenge has really inspired us to just give more and more... just the fact that we live in the United States makes us some of the the richest in the world!!! [yes even with our current economy *wink*] and we dont have to worry about our needs... because HE will provide for them!!! Our concern needs to be about others needs!!! and we are praying for God to show us and put us in these [uncomfortable] situations way more often and allow us to give more and more to show others chrits love through our actions!!!

WoooHoooo JESUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D :D :D

btw- we are currently wanting to sponsor some needy children overseas, but were a little overwhelmed when looking around as there are SO many organizations... we want to make sure we pick a GOOD one that is really in it for the children and they do what they say they will do... Any Suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated!!! :)


So there will be some little paper money in our memorial box to remind us of God GREAT PRovision!!! (btw- would you pray for us that God would direct us to find the right place to find the right memorial box... we have yet to find it) So friends... how have you given and served and how has God shown himself to you through your service???? please share... :D:D:D