Nathaniel says...

"Look, Mom, I really need to start shaving."

"You did buy me this really nice razor for my birthday."

"I can do it by myself... thank you."

"See... sooooo much better!"

My response was something like...

"No... I don't see how shaving your baby boy fuzz off your precious little boy face is so much better.  I only see my adorable little boy... turning into a man... to QUICKLY!"
and my next thought was... "What was I thinking buying my little boy a razor!"

Radical ~ what the gospel demands

Precious Katie posted this series...



I started listening yesterday and I can already tell you...  I am so convicted and challenged... and by the grace of God ready to live a RADICAL life for Jesus.

"It is a dangerous temptation... when we soften Jesus' words to justify the way we live." Dr. David Platt

I urge you to take the time to listen... and pray... and be radically changed!

Hard...

doesn't even cover it.

I have a friend who has been in the process of gaining legal guardianship in Ug*nda, of three precious girls, for over two years.

It's a long story, and although she has given me permission to ask you for prayers, I don't feel like it's my place to give ALL the details.  Honestly, I don't even know all the details.

There have been many struggles of one sort or another throughout the whole process.  But, just when she and her husband thought they were going to be allowed to bring their girls home... the enemy reared his ugly head.

The recent requirement for changes in language on court orders is not their issue.  My friend is so discouraged that she is not even able to articulate at this time what is going on.  All she has been able to communicate is that they have been told that they are going to be issued a N.O.I.D. (Notice of Intention to Deny) regarding Visas for their children.

I know that they are going to fight to bring their children home.  I know that they are seeking God's will in this situation.

But I also know that... it is HARD.  I know she has grown weary. 

Please, PLEASE, pray for my friend.  Pray for the little girls waiting to come home to their forever family.  Pray that the Lord would move mightly on their behalf to bring these girls home.  Pray that He would speak to this family's hearts and they would hear His voice, that they would be strengthened and filled with hope.  Pray that they would have favor with every person that is making a decision on their behalf.  Pray that the Lord would open the way for them to bring their girls home now.

Please.  Pray. 

"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."  Galations 6:2

I have been so encouraged to watch this blog community come together and pray for sisters and brothers in Christ.  I have witnessed God move and answer the prayers of the saints.

I believe that God is moving in the hearts of believers to adopt children like never before.  The enemy doesn't like it, so he goes prowling around trying to sabatoge and destroy the plans of families answering the call of adoption.  The enemy throws challenges and roadblocks at us, he makes us feel helpless, even defeated.

"But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who live and are saved." Hebrews 10:39

We ARE victorious in Jesus Christ!!  He is our help.  He is our strength.  He WILL rescue us.  We must not lose heart and grow weary.

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9

But... when one of our sisters or brothers do become weary, we MUST hold them up.   We MUST pray when they cannot find the words.  We MUST hope for them when they have begun to doubt.  We MUST encourage them to keep the faith!

"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."  Hebrews 4:16

Please join me in praying for this friend... and for the others fighting to bring their children home.

No News

We still wait.

I know there is work to be done in the waiting. 

I know there are lessons to learn in the waiting.

I trust God is working out His perfect plan in the waiting.

But... I don't like it.

Teen... as in Thirteen

Our "little man" is no longer "little"...

He is a young MAN!!!

Growing up with five sisters is NOT easy... 

but Nathaniel handles it beautifully!

He is a gentleman.  He is brave and kind.

He is passionate and funny.

And he LOVES Jesus!!

He is a good friend

and a wonderful son.

Happy 13th Birthday Nathaniel!

We love you!!!

first my 2nd born daughter turns 20!

and now my boy is 13! 

I really AM old! ;)

TWENTY!

wHeRe DoEs ThE tImE gO?

HaPpY BiRtHdAy!!

to my gorgeous girl!!

Francis Chan

is a gifted writer who is passionate about training believers to live COMPLETELY sold out, in crazy love, for our Savior!  I was SO challenged and blessed by his book "Crazy Love"!  I HIGHLY recommend it!!

Today I started "Forgotten God - Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit"

and I can already say... WOW! 

I LOVE how he challenges his readers who are "nestled deep within the Christian bubble to look beyond the status quo and critically assess the degree to which we are really living biblically."

Regarding the Holy Spirit, he says "It really is an astounding truth that the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you.  He lives in me.  I do not know what the Spirit will do or where He'll lead me each time I invite Him to guide me.  But I am tired of living in a way that looks exactly like people who do not have the Holy Spirit of God living in them.  I want to consistently live with an awareness of His strength.  I want to be different today from what I was yesterday as the fruit of the Spirit becomes more manifest in me." 

AMEN!  and that was just Chapter ONE!!!

In Chapter 2 he guides readers to evaluate what "fears" they let control their lives.  Fear of rejection?  Fear of what people will think?  He says, "Fear has a way of channeling our thought process."

He goes on to make the point that "rarely (if ever) do we consider whether our actions or lifestyle are grievous to the Spirit of the living God."

Ouch! 

I think I'll spend the rest of the day focused "on believing the promises given to us by God, on submitting to Him the fears that I have, and on surrendering myself fully to the work and will of God, the Holy Spirit."

I can't wait to read more! 

Thank you Mr. Chan for faithfully serving our mighty Creator and challenging me to live in COMPLETE surrender to Him!

Uganda Update

Click HERE for the latest update regarding guardianship from Uganda.

Please continue to pray! 

"But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless. Break the arm of the wicked and evil man; call him to account for his wickedness that would not be found out. The LORD is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land. You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more."

Psalm 10:14-18

Please Pray!

Prayer Warriors NOW is the time to come together and flood the gates of Heaven with our cries for God's hand to move in a mighty way regarding Ugandan guardianships.

The news is that our government has decided NOT to grant Visas to the children whose families have already been granted guardianship.  It seems the US embassy has very recently demanded that the Ugandan judges change the wording in the writing of the court orders that grant guardianships.  The US says that they will not issue any Visa until this is done.

I don't understand it all... you can visit Chris and Meghan and the James 1:27 Family for their interpretations of the ordeal.

The outcome of this situation will affect MANY families and their children, as well as future guardianships.

Please PRAY!

"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

Apathy

is hurting children.  I despise Apathy.

The definition of apathy is:
1 : lack of feeling or emotion : impassiveness
2 : lack of interest or concern : indifference
 
How is it that we become apathetic? ~ I think it is a subtle, sneaky, sinful little creeper that comes in slowly, without a lot of fuss. 
 
Apathy defeats good intentions.  We intend to help the needy.  We talk about the plight of the orphans.  We think about feeding the hungry.  We plan to donate money.  We mean to pray.
 
But then... we get busy taking care of our families, our careers, our friends and relatives, our schedules, our children's schedules, etc., etc. and then before you know it... Apathy comes to visit... and usually stays awhile.
 
We didn't mean to let Apathy stay so long.  It's not like the things we are busy doing aren't important.  They are important. Very.
 
But... what IF... it was your nephew that goes hungry for days and has to dig through the trash for food?  or your best friend's daughter that falls victim to human-trafficking, forced to become a sex-slave?  or your brother's grandaughter that can't go to school because he can't pay the fees?  or your sister's son that is taken by force and made to be a child soldier... forced to kill?
 
what IF... there were starving children lined up at the fence of your backyard?  or orphans sleeping on your street?  or sick babies lying on your door step?  or young children carrying jugs to collect water from your muddy front yard?
 
Would it be different??  Would it be different if it were someone you loved?  Someone you valued?  Someone you cared for personally?  Would it be different if it were closer to home... closer to your heart?
 
If it were personal... would the busyness of life take a backseat to service... to prayer... to giving... to helping... to loving???  Would we kick Apathy out the door then?  Would we figure out how to help then?  Would we get creative and do whatever was necessary to make a difference?  Would we pray with more urgency and passion?
 
I believe that IF it were someone we loved... we would do something.  Aren't we supposed to love others?  ALL others?  ...as Christ loves us...
 
"... love one another deeply, from the heart." 1 Peter 1:22
 
Love defeats Apathy.
 
"Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves Me."  John 14:21
 
Apathy is hurting children...  and NOW is the time for Apathy to leave.

Gratitude