Tuesday, May 17, 2011
By the way....
By the way my Church lifegroup held another garage sale and made over $800. There was rain, cold, wind, and I had emergency surgury but still God did amazingly more then we could imagine! Thanks to everyone who donated and those who worked so hard. We love you and pray blessings are returned to you! We are now to $6700.
A Sudanese Girl
"Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted." Matt. 5:4
Some of you know that I spent two years of my life living in The Sudan. Many of you know I Love Sudan! It is forever burned on my heart. Just for fun here are a few memories of mine!
I went to Sudan to do great things but really great things happened to me while I was there. One thing that happened is that God taught me something about suffering. There was so much suffering around me that you could not help but feel overwhelmed at times. Hungry people, displaced people, and mostly people so blinded from the truth.
One day in church God taught me a life long lesson. The girl that sang in the worship team was skin and bones because I am sure she had very little food. She wore the same dress to church every Sunday and I remember because it was a classic African garb with a full body picture of Mary the Mother of Jesus :) So funny but that is another story. Anyhow I loved watching her worship because I could see her passion and love for Jesus. I was praying for her in church one Sunday and asking the Lord what I could do for her. Maybe visit her and take her some food. The Lord spoke to me and told me she was more satisfied than I could ever be because she was eating something I could not eat. I knew exactly what God was getting at. In her hunger she was being filled with Jesus. I could not understand that satisfaction because I have never hungered.
Matthew 5 is the sermon on the mount. Some of us call it the beatitudes. My daughter calls it the "Big Attitudes" which I feel is very appropriate. Jesus lays out a series of blessings, like those who are merciful will be shown mercy. But a few of the blessings are given not for actions we take but things that happen to us. For instance, "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. " I want to talk about the verse 4 that says "blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."
Now I know we have in the body of Christ those who don't believe God wants us to suffer. I heard a sermon on Christian radio just the other day that said we need to pray and believe God to heal us because sickness was counter productive to God's work. After all, how can we share about God's love to mankind when we are sick in a bed. Well, I say this! I guess if that were true you would never have been sick in the first place. Sickness, pain and suffering could at times just be a result of a fallen world and we may have to suffer just because we live in a fallen world. Now I know that God does at times heal and he does at times remove pain. I would guess so that people know His power. But, often he does not. And I might be so bold to say it is for His glory and our Good. Lets not assume that God is about waisting His time. If we are down, sick or broken and it seems were unable to do much good around us perhaps it is God's time to make of us something that is more productive later. After all, "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed." 1 Peter 4:12 "suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." Romans 5:4-5
I shared awhile back that Kevin and I had lost 7 babies and now we have lost 8. Each time I asked God to save my babies because of coarse I am not asking for more pain, but he didn't save them. But I can promise you He did something else for me. "HE SPOKE" Every time He has spoke to me and comforted me. I have experienced God in a way that only those of us who suffer get to experience. I want to share this because I want to encourage others not to pretend not to hurt, not to try to expect others not to hurt but sometimes to embrace it and let God do to you what he wants to through the pain. I'm not promoting at all putting a fake smile on your face and walking around saying "Praise Jesus." I'm not promoting "positive thinking yourself into a better place. I simply mean let God heal you! This doesn't mean we don't get angry, or we don't cry or even that we might go temporarily insane: ) ( I was joking with Kevin tonight that he needed to sneak one of his shots off the phych floor tonight in case I go into a crazy fit like his patients. Then he could give me a shot in the butt and tell me to stay in bed or else. ) Anyhow it is just possible that the time spent sick in bed was not a waste of time at all. We might rise up out of bed and God's spirit be so real in us that He can do something through us that we could not handle before the brokenness.
"So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good." 1 Peter 4:19
Next time I will share with you something else God has done through my pain.
Some of you know that I spent two years of my life living in The Sudan. Many of you know I Love Sudan! It is forever burned on my heart. Just for fun here are a few memories of mine!
One day in church God taught me a life long lesson. The girl that sang in the worship team was skin and bones because I am sure she had very little food. She wore the same dress to church every Sunday and I remember because it was a classic African garb with a full body picture of Mary the Mother of Jesus :) So funny but that is another story. Anyhow I loved watching her worship because I could see her passion and love for Jesus. I was praying for her in church one Sunday and asking the Lord what I could do for her. Maybe visit her and take her some food. The Lord spoke to me and told me she was more satisfied than I could ever be because she was eating something I could not eat. I knew exactly what God was getting at. In her hunger she was being filled with Jesus. I could not understand that satisfaction because I have never hungered.
Matthew 5 is the sermon on the mount. Some of us call it the beatitudes. My daughter calls it the "Big Attitudes" which I feel is very appropriate. Jesus lays out a series of blessings, like those who are merciful will be shown mercy. But a few of the blessings are given not for actions we take but things that happen to us. For instance, "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. " I want to talk about the verse 4 that says "blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."
Now I know we have in the body of Christ those who don't believe God wants us to suffer. I heard a sermon on Christian radio just the other day that said we need to pray and believe God to heal us because sickness was counter productive to God's work. After all, how can we share about God's love to mankind when we are sick in a bed. Well, I say this! I guess if that were true you would never have been sick in the first place. Sickness, pain and suffering could at times just be a result of a fallen world and we may have to suffer just because we live in a fallen world. Now I know that God does at times heal and he does at times remove pain. I would guess so that people know His power. But, often he does not. And I might be so bold to say it is for His glory and our Good. Lets not assume that God is about waisting His time. If we are down, sick or broken and it seems were unable to do much good around us perhaps it is God's time to make of us something that is more productive later. After all, "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed." 1 Peter 4:12 "suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." Romans 5:4-5
I shared awhile back that Kevin and I had lost 7 babies and now we have lost 8. Each time I asked God to save my babies because of coarse I am not asking for more pain, but he didn't save them. But I can promise you He did something else for me. "HE SPOKE" Every time He has spoke to me and comforted me. I have experienced God in a way that only those of us who suffer get to experience. I want to share this because I want to encourage others not to pretend not to hurt, not to try to expect others not to hurt but sometimes to embrace it and let God do to you what he wants to through the pain. I'm not promoting at all putting a fake smile on your face and walking around saying "Praise Jesus." I'm not promoting "positive thinking yourself into a better place. I simply mean let God heal you! This doesn't mean we don't get angry, or we don't cry or even that we might go temporarily insane: ) ( I was joking with Kevin tonight that he needed to sneak one of his shots off the phych floor tonight in case I go into a crazy fit like his patients. Then he could give me a shot in the butt and tell me to stay in bed or else. ) Anyhow it is just possible that the time spent sick in bed was not a waste of time at all. We might rise up out of bed and God's spirit be so real in us that He can do something through us that we could not handle before the brokenness.
"So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good." 1 Peter 4:19
Next time I will share with you something else God has done through my pain.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Big Gift!
Great news! We were given a $1000 gift this last Sunday by a very sweet couple from our Church. God is so good and I would have never imagined us being this far. We are so grateful to a wonderful Church and friends that have been so amazing to jump on board and be part of this process. Kevin and I were talking about how exciting it is to have so many people invested in our children. I am almost glad we don't have that kind of cash up front. We know where people put their money their heart is too, and since so many people have invested in our children we know that they will be part of our children's lives. God couldn't have planned it any better.
We also have another garage sale coming up this weekend. Our Life Group from Church has worked so hard to help us with what is now a second garage sale. Pray for us ! We are now at nearly $6000.
We also have another garage sale coming up this weekend. Our Life Group from Church has worked so hard to help us with what is now a second garage sale. Pray for us ! We are now at nearly $6000.
Friday, May 6, 2011
A New Topic!
Blogs .... the invention of sharing ones heart as a way to unwind :) By the way I fully know how cheesy my illustrations are! No need to tell me.
Kevin and I decided a while back we wanted to adopt whether or not we could carry another child. However, because I am approaching 40 at light speed we have wanted to try just one more time to carry one more child before adopting. A couple months ago I found I was pregnant and we really believed this child was going to make it. The doctors have learned so much about what has been going on with me. I felt so great and just knew this time was going to be different. However, we learned a couple weeks ago I had another ectopic pregnancy and we have now lost another child. I know this is some what of an awkward subject for many woman but I wanted to start sharing about our journey through multiple pregnancy loss. I am going to start a new page if you would like to join me in my thoughts. I hope that it will be an encouragement to other woman dealing with pain.
On another note I am continuing to blog about our awesome progress we are making toward our adoption and tonight I have some of the best news. We are about ready to apply and actually start this process :) We have almost enough to get our home study and paper work done so we are ready to dive in. Things will start getting exciting around here. We covet your prayers as I am slightly nervous about making a final decision on our agency and nervous about someone interviewing our family. YIKES!!!! However, I am so excited to finally get moving.
One other piece of great news is that my great friend Michele Maloney as I mentioned on an earlier blog is doing photos for our adoption. Check out her website and see how you can be part of helping our process. http://michelemaloneyphotography.com/
We also have another garage sale coming up next weekend so if you live close by and have junk to donate give me a call. Our last garage sale was awesome and we raised over $600 dollars.
Oh by the way we are to $5000!!!!! WOOOHOOO
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