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"It is ever the Holy Spirit's work to turn our eyes away from self to Jesus; but Satan's work is just the opposite of this, for he is constantly trying to make us regard ourselves instead of Christ.
He insinuates, "Your sins are too great for pardon; you have no faith; you do not repent enough; you will never be able to continue to the end; you have not the joy of His children; you have such a wavering hold of Jesus."
All these are thoughts about self, and we shall never find comfort or assurance by looking within.
But the Holy Spirit turns our eyes entirely away from self: He tells us that we are nothing, but that "Christ is all in all."
Remember, therefore, it is not thy hold of Christ that saves thee--it is Christ; it is not thy joy in Christ that saves thee--it is Christ; it is not even faith in Christ, though that be the instrument--it is Christ's blood and merits..."
read the rest here
Spurgeon's morning and evening - for June 28
Thursday, June 30, 2011
It is not my faith in Christ that saves me
Saturday, June 25, 2011
There. I posted something.
Walker took this week off for a little Staycation so we have been busy bees with all kinds of Quality Family Fun Time.
Thursday we went to the Museum of Fine Arts to expose our heatherns to some culture and because we thought saying "I SAID DON'T TOUCH!!" approximately 30 times a minute sounded like fun. I did get a cute picture of all four of them, which is a summertime miracle right there y'all
That night, my husband and Jenny's husband Mark had plans to go see a movie with the boys. So I had the bright idea that we would just take the kids over to her house, and after playing serenely, our seven children would all fall asleep watching a movie, then we would just move our four silently into the car around 10:30, kissing their sweetly sleeping foreheads, and drive them home before we tucked them all snug in their beds. Jenny even had a babysitter coming, so the fantasy was that we would sit on her balcony, drink mommy beverages and enjoy kid-free momversation under the stars.
Stupid. Stupid idea. Seriously one for the Stupid Hall of Fame. Sleep? HA! Too busy complaining about the movie. Momversation was rudely interrupted by reports to the balcony like, "Mom, the little kid is walking around naked with poop on his legs." Ike had three accidents, and there are no stars in Houston. Walker's movie was interrupted by texts saying "COME HOME ASAP! THIS IS HELLISH!" and another immediately following, "I mean, after your movie is done. <3"
He did rush back, muttering, "I told you so"s and "I can't believe you thought that would work"s. Our children fought all the way home and were finally asleep around 11pm.
Stupid.
Yesterday was much better. We drove way out yonder to a place my sister-in-law recommended called Splashway in Sheridan, Texas. I must admit I was pessimistic as we drove and drove and drove and the rain clouds hovered, but as soon as we pulled up in the parking lot, I was glad we made it. Loved it!! It is a 'family waterpark' - which means neato things like the water almost never gets deeper than three feet; you can bring a cooler of snacks and drinks in; the people were nice and calm and sober; and they played Christian music over the loudspeakers. They have lots of little kid areas and some big scary slides - we rode them all, including a 40 foot free fall slide that I renamed The Enema. Not my favorite. But aside from that, the kids pronounced it the best place ever.
However, with all the excitement and quality husband time, I'm experimenting a little bloggy block. So I asked y'all on my facebook page for some suggestions. Couple of good ideas, and some quick easy answers, which I shall now share because I can't think of anything else to blog about:
Vanessa Kids arguing with everything their parents say. Or complaining. :)
22 hours ago ·
Run, don't walk, or, like, type really fast, to buy this book. Life changing.
Sarah How to handle your 3-year old being smarter than you are.
21 hours ago · · 1 personWell, now I am working on how to handle your 6 year old being smarter than you are, so I can't help you much. Except, see above. You'll probably need that book.
Lori King Jacobs Your time in Kansas! Your speaking experience. Your WOW time when you got out of the van at Jack & LaDean's and looked up and saw all of the stars. Your amazing friends in Kansas. The April Fool's joke that God played on both you and I. Your experience in the bathroom. Does that give you a few ideas?
21 hours ago ·
Oh, I love you Lori. She's talking about when I spoke at her church's ladies' retreat in April. The stars: y'all we don't get stars in Houston. They get them in Kansas. I looked up and was blown away. The April Fool's joke was that I missed my flight. It was rather traumatic. The bathroom: God made me, germophobe, get on my knees and pray in a public bathroom. On my knees. In a public bathroom. In an airport. My own private Ninevah, y'all. All to show me he was large and in charge. He was, he is, and Kansas was spectacular.
Annie the mother/daughter relationship. I just had a surreal convo with mine. She complained to me about something HER mom does and how much it drives her crazy. Funny thing is she does the EXACT same thing to me. :)
21 hours ago · · 1 personAnnie, I can't relate, because you see my mom is perfect in every way.And she reads my blog.
Jenny you can guest post on my blog! would LOVE lurv LUV it!
21 hours ago ·
Jenny! I need to guest post on my OWN blog!!
Aimee A mid-summers night dream? Fun summer plans.
21 hours ago ·
I have plans to finish painting my walls a gorgeous Comfort Gray and then....
Emily Strittmatter Best toddler toys; most worthwhile/least worthwhile "kid" related purchases; most useful child development books; what to do when your child will only eat fruit; how to deal with daycare/MDO/babysitter issues; smocking insights; best of Houston for families
12 hours ago ·
Y'all I got to watch Emily not be pregnant and then become a mother. From afar, I've never actually met her, but we have emailed a great deal about her habit of buying little dresses for her yet-to-be-born smocked out daughter. This has been the number one toy my kids loved and played with for years, and I mean years
I've listed most of my fave child development books here. As for the fruit, have you tried frozen peas? Frozen English peas, straight out of the freezer to the high chair tray. They are so yummy he will be fooled. Other than that, just keep pushing veggies, but homemade ones. Have you tried jarred baby food veggies? Who can blame the child? Homemade baby food is quick and easy, I promise, just use this book. MDO issues: yuck, hate those. I've switched schools lots of times. That probably doesn't help you much. Smocking insights? Come to our consignment sale, of course.
Angel You mentioned before that you may blog about pride in blogging. I'd love to read a post about that.
8 hours ago ·
Yes. This will be one of those times that I have to remind myself that I don't have to have conquered my sin in order to talk or write about it.
Valerie How to enforce nap time for a 20 month old and a 3 year old who share a room.
about an hour ago ·Super easy Valerie. Admit defeat. Let one of them nap in your room. We still often even do this at night - Eva Rose gets carried to her own room when we go to bed. When it comes to sleep, the ends (almost) always justifies the means.
Monday, June 20, 2011
The Twelve Days of Summer
On the first day of summer, my dear child said to me:
where are we going today?
On the second day of summer my dear child said to me:
two Mom I'm hots
and a where are we going today?
On the third day of summer my dear child said to me
three he hit me firsts
two Mom I'm hots
and a where are we going today?
On the fourth day of summer my dear child said to me
four extended whines,
three he hit me firsts
two Mom I'm hots
and a where are we going today?
On the fifth day of summer my dear child said to me:
Fiiiiiiiiiive Iiiiii'mmmm sooooo boreds,
four extended whines,
three he hit me firsts
two Mom I'm hots
and a where are we going today?
On the sixth day of summer my dear child said to me,
Six I read all my books
Fiiiiiiiiiive Iiiiii'mmmm sooooo boreds,
four extended whines,
three he hit me firsts
two Mom I'm hots
and a where are we going today?
On the seventh day of summer my dear child said to me,
Seven let's go swimmings
Six I read all my books
Fiiiiiiiiiive Iiiiii'mmmm sooooo boreds,
four extended whines,
three he hit me firsts
two Mom I'm hots
and a where are we going today?
On the eighth day of summer my dear child said to me,
Eight can I play your iPhones
Seven let's go swimmings
Six I read all my books
Fiiiiiiiiiive Iiiiii'mmmm sooooo boreds,
four extended whines,
three he hit me firsts
two Mom I'm hots
and a where are we going today?
On the ninth day of summer my dear child said to me,
Nine I hate mosquitoes
Eight can I play your iPhones
Seven let's go swimmings
Six I read all my books
Fiiiiiiiiiive Iiiiii'mmmm sooooo boreds,
four extended whines,
three he hit me firsts
two Mom I'm hots
and a where are we going today?
On the tenth day of summer my dear child said to me,
Ten I miss my friends
Nine I hate mosquitoes
Eight can I play your iPhones
Seven let's go swimmings
Six I read all my books
Fiiiiiiiiiive Iiiiii'mmmm sooooo boreds,
four extended whines,
three he hit me firsts
two Mom I'm hots
and a where are we going today?
On the eleventh day of summer my dear child said to me,
Eleven can we watch cartoons,
Ten I miss my friends
Nine I hate mosquitoes
Eight can I play your iPhones
Seven let's go swimmings
Six I read all my books
Fiiiiiiiiiive Iiiiii'mmmm sooooo boreds,
four extended whines,
three he hit me firsts
two Mom I'm hots
and a where are we going today?
On the twelfth day of summer my dear child said to me,
Twelve when does school starts
Eleven can we watch cartoons,
Ten I miss my friends
Nine I hate mosquitoes
Eight can I play your iPhones
Seven let's go swimmings
Six I read all my books
Fiiiiiiiiiive Iiiiii'mmmm sooooo boreds,
four extended whines,
three he hit me firsts
two Mom I'm hots
and a where are we going todaaaaaay?
Friday, June 17, 2011
Things that make Christians go hmmmm
Just have to share with y'all two articles that really made me think today.
(And today, that was no small order.)
Is the Church ready for the abortion law to change?
On adoption, Christians should put up or shut up
Happy weekend!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Missy's Totally Awesome Two Minute Tip #3 - Getting readers to your blog
(Credit: CC Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com/Flickr)
Today I got an email from Elizabeth. She just started a blog and wondered if I could give her any tips on getting more readers.
I talked about this some at my chit-chat talk at the PURE conference back in February, so it is fresh in my mind.
As if my synapses actually functioned like that. My memory is so pathetic these days, I cannot remember squat about what I said. So I'll make it all up again from scratch.
The things I do for you, Elizabeth...
Here is my Two (or twenty-two) Minute Tip for getting "entrenched" in the blog world:
- Remember that this is a community. These are real people. I have made some dear, dear, dear friends in this crazy blog world. Way more than I've made in my real neighborhood. Which makes me sound like a freak but let's just not psychoanalyze it k? My point is, do unto others. Don't just go to other blogs and say "please come to my blog". It's just kinda, um, like saying, "Hi perfect stranger! Please come to my house! Please?" Eek. (Or maybe if I did that I'd have more friends in the neighborhood?) Be organic. Let the relationship naturally flow. And the way to do that brings us to number 2.
- Comment. Comment comment comment. When I first started blogging, I would find a blog I liked, and leave a comment. Then I would go to their blogroll, because if I liked them, I would probably like the people on their blogroll. When I first started, I would say, "Tonight I am going to comment on ten blogs." Or twenty. Or whatever. Leave a funny enough comment, and other commenters will pop over to your blog. I only comment, however, if I really like the post. I mean, I'm not totally fake. Not totally. I almost never comment if the blog did not interest me because I figured if I didn't like their blog, they probably wouldn't like mine either. Leave a for real comment, and they will pop over to your blog and comment, and before you know it, you have a BBF. I used to do this a lot - I am sad that I do not have time to do this now.
- Leave your email in the comment if you want an answer. I don't know why blogger sometimes lets y'all check to leave your email and other times doesn't. I don't know why Blogger does half the crazy things Blogger does. Blogger confuses me more than a high school boyfriend. But I usually reply to comments if I have an email, and I am sometimes sad when I cannot reply to y'all. Because I'm chatty like that. But if I am on my iPhone especially, it is too hard to pop back over to your blog and then someone screams or bleeds and there goes that thought. Point: leave your email. Let's fall in love.
- When people comment on your blog, pop back over and comment on theirs. I wish I had more time to do this now, but it used to be my standard MO.
- Do NOT leave negative comments. Oh my word. You are neither their mother nor their English teacher. If you can't type something nice, don't type anything.
- Post often, as often as you can. I am a big hypocrite for saying that, but I used to blog every day. I have no idea how I did that, but I did. Oh yeah! My kids used to nap! Hence the name of the blog! I need to change it now to "It's Almost Adolescence, Perhaps My Children Will Sleep Again."
- Make it brainless for people to follow your blog. Put a "subscribe by email" box, and make a feedburner account. If you don't know how to do this, just google "how to do put a subscribe by email box on Blogger" etc and the answers will come, grasshopper.
- Join blog rolls and blog lists. I don't actually know if this does any good, but it doesn't hurt. A couple of good ones are Christian Women Online. I'm sure others will leave more in the comments. I get a lot of traffic from Christian Blog Topsites, fewer from here.
- Link up your blog to your Facebook profile via Networked Blogs, whenever you blog all your friends will see it whether they want to or not. If you are on Twitter, link it up there as well.
- You can leave your blog at the bottom of your email signature with a service like WiseStamp. I have mixed feelings about this so I am constantly taking mine off and putting it back on.
- Make sure you join Technorati. Just do it. It's the biggest, most legitimate bloggy thing out there.
- Join carnivals, like Works for Me Wednesday, my personal fave.
- Spellcheck. Please. I'm begging you. I start to twitch after the two misspelled words.
- Put blogs you love on your blogroll - you don't have to ask if you can do this but a comment saying you did so would be nice if they are a small family blog who might not actually want strangers looking at their kids' pictures like the rest of us weirdos. DO NOT ask to be put on anyone else's blogroll. "Hi, you don't know me, will you put me on your blogroll?" NO, you creep. Ugh. It's a pet peeve of mine, can you tell? The people on my blogroll are people I either know personally (almost all of them) or whose blogs I have read enough to recommend them without worrying they are gonna start dropping f bombs or blaspheming the Holy Spirit or not spellcheck.
- Take the capcha off your comment section. I have never had one, and I almost never get spam. Some people think it's really, really, super duper way annoying (ahem) and usually unnecessary.
- I recommend not moderating comments. Impedes the conversational flow. In Christian blog circles, where most people play nice, it is probably not necessary.
- Make your blog cute. You don't have to spend $400 (yes, some charge that) - you can get cute backgrounds yourself for free, just google it. On almost every blog, their designer will be on their sidebar, so you can ask for a blog makeover for your birthday. If you are much smarter than I am, you can do it yourself but I think HTML is one of those foreign languages that people who are possessed by the devil spew at the priest. I tried to do mine and literally had to go get a massage. I'm not joking. I got so stressed out I could not move my neck. But maybe you're smarter. Man, I'm stressed out now just thinking about it. Ugh. You've been warned. And FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS PURE AND HOLY don't put light letters on a dark background. I will click away, click far away.
- Here is my biggest tip that I learned from the Swami herself: write in choppy paragraphs. Basically, throw out almost everything your English teacher taught you here in blogland, where the sentence fragment is an art form. A big long paragraph scares people back to work or laundry. Just artificially break it up into choppier sentence clusters (eg unlike this post), and it fools people into thinking it is a shorter post. Manipulative, and highly effective.
- Here's what I think made me get some of y'all to keep coming back: be real. You're not perfect, don't pretend to be. When I first started blogging the majority of my posts had a consistent theme: I'm the world's crappiest mom but Jesus loves me anyway. I wasn't trying to "build a following," I'm just the world's crappiest mom but Jesus loves me anyway. Evidently, there was a need for that message. I recommend you be a real blogger with a real blog who blogs about real life.
- My wise friend Lisa told me once: we don't work for the blog, the blog works for us. Tattoo that on your forehead. Or just memorize it, your choice.
That's all I can think of for now...got any more tips? Leave them in the comments.
Well my man just said, "Babe come on let's watch Toddlers and Tiaras now" and if that's not a mating call, I don't know what is. Good night!
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Freedom Summer!
This week all four of my kids are in VBS. Ike is the wonderful magical age of four, so for the first year, he can attend without me volunteering.
So guess what.
I ain't volunteering.
{INSERT MANIACAL LAUGH HERE}
Yes. Every morning I march my kiddos past the bamboo and into the sanctuary, smile, wave and chitchat for a few minutes with all my cute friends in their cute panda tshirts, and then I walk out of the building, get in my car, and drive away.
{REINSERT MANIACAL LAUGH HERE}
And I feel no guilt. Zero. Zilch. For I have paid me some mean VBS dues.
I've been teaching/doling out crayons/story telling/singing/hand motioning every summer since I was 8 months pregnant with Shepherd. One crazy summer I even volunteered at three count em three different churches.
Next summer I should (please God) have a baby girl whom I will probably bring with me while I go back to my old routine of passing out goldfish and
So this summer, the first summer of my life that I can drop off four children and drive away, I've got my kids scheduled at no less than four count 'em four VBSs around town. By some holy decree the theme in every church in Houston and perhaps the world is Pandamania. By August, they should have sprouted black ears and grown white bellies and be able to order their fried rice in perfect Mandarin.
Our church is a bit of a hike from the burbs so this week I don't come home. Instead, I've got three hours to kill every day in the big city. Yesterday, I sat on Jenny's couch and drank coffee. Tomorrow, I am sitting on Linsey's couch and drinking coffee. And Tari just offered up her couch for Friday! Yea! (Thursday is still open y'all!)
Today? Well, I went to IKEA to look at curtains, but before that I hung out at church and chatted with Karre. And while chatting, I took pictures of myself on my iPhone and emailed them to my husband at work.
Like this one
I just can't believe I voted for that Congressman Weiner.
And I just can't believe he never answers my tweets.
and this one
Can someone tell me where the Spam aisle is?
and this one
Why hello! You look just darlin! I just love your hair! Have you lost weight! Cause you look darlin! So listen, we need someone to be the chair of VBS for next summer and I immediately thought of you! I know you are pregnant with your sixth baby and homeschooling them all while training for the marathon and your sick grandma just moved in with you but I know you can handle it! I couldn't imagine anyone else doing it! Oh praise the Lord! I'll send you all the info! I can't believe how darlin you look!
Okay, now, y'all better get to bed, because y'all have a big day of panda-herding tomorrow!! See ya at dropoff! You look darlin!!
{REINSERT MANIACAL LAUGH HERE}
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Totally Awesome Tip for Underground Zits
I got food poisoning.
From a little local diner we eat at quite frequently, the Proverbs 32 Cafe.
Monday evening about 6:30, Walker emerged from his office, ie, a bedroom surrounded by a blue and red car bed, a Fisher Price car garage, various stuffed bears and 28 Matchbox cars where he sits on the floor in shorts and an undershirt with a laptop in front of him drinking ice tea and wheelin and dealin. As I passed the stairs on my way to the kitchen, he pointed to his eyes, "Look at this. Look. At. This. LOOK at me." Being a good wife, I looked. His eyes were red, very red, and tears were running down his unshaven face.
"What's wrong with you?" Sweet Concerned Wife said. Selfish Wife thought, "This issue won't stop you from putting the kids down, right?"
"I don't know. Look at this. Look. At. This."
"I see. Does it hurt?" said sweet concerned wife. Selfish Wife thought, "Please don't tell me you can't put the kids down."
"YES. They're BURNING. It's KILLING ME."
"Do you need to go to the ER?" Sweet concerned wife asked. Selfish Wife answered, "Nooooo! Nooooo!"
"I dunno. Maybe."
"Seriously? Oh my gosh babe."
And then Sweet Concerned Wife and Selfish Wife both said in unison, "Well, go ahead an put the kids down, and we'll see if it gets better." Then they both hurried to get him some Benadryl.
As he put the kids down (yea!), I pulled the hamburger patties out of the fridge and began to cook them for us. They'd been in there a while, which was why I needed to cook them. Can't really remember how long, the dog days of summer and all, plus I was preoccupied by my husband's BURNING KILLING ME eyes.
After he put the kids down (whew!) he went to lie down, exhausted by his ocular trauma. I asked him if I should go ahead and eat, he said yes. He kept on sleeping. I proceeded to eat one of the best hamburgers I've ever cooked, feeling guilty over how fattening it was, but enjoying it immensely as I watched TV. He never woke up.
Around 11pm, my tummy felt unhappy.
I'll spare you the details after that.
But those calories? No longer a concern.
Walker never ate his hamburger.
His tummy is fine.
And he was indeed Sweet Concerned Husband when I moaned on the couch all day yesterday, went to bed at 5pm, and did not wake up till this morning.
His eyes? They're fine. Who knows why they suddenly acted like they gasoline had been thrown in them while he was busy wheeling and dealing on a Pottery Barn kids' table whilst propped against a teddy bear. These things happen to Walker sometimes. Remember the Vegas Dumbo incident?
Anyway, my tummy has recovered, which brings us to Missy's Totally Awesome Tip #2:
One of the joys of aging is that while the rest of your body is acting like it's 60, your face starts to think it is 16 again. I've had more trouble with breakouts in the past five years than I ever did in high school.
I'd hung out with the teenagers in the zit aisle trying every acne product available and nothing worked. I'd scrubbed, exfoliated, dabbed various lotions and potions, all in vain. I was whining about this, especially the "underground zits" (fancy name: cystic acne) that come and go on my chin when my friend Stacey told me that her dermatologist had told her to use Oil of Olay Total Effects moisturizer because it had Vitamin B in it or something - whatever, I bought some at Target and tried it. And...
IT WORKS.
And it works fast - my chin cleared up within two days, and when I use it regularly, the underground zits stay away.
Now I'm going to have some ice cream.
Monday, June 6, 2011
My friend Wendy is doing a "Shop for Jop" fundraiser for Joplin tornado victims on her blog - please pop over here!
Missy's Totally Awesome Two Minute Tip
Yeah, so, yeah. I didn't get my whole house redone in 30 days.
I did do some cool stuff and I will show it to you later but for now? I just need to NOT THINK about redecorating my house for a little bit.
So I am just popping in to say heeeeeeeey. Hey y'all.
I figured that wasn't a good enough post so as I was just brushing my teeth and all the good night stuff I do I thought I would share with you my Two Greatest Tips of Late.
Tip #1: Vitamin D is Speed.
A few months ago I was driving home and caught a lady on the radio saying that we needed to take Vitamin D and a whole lot of it. I had heard this before, from my dear friend Oprah, and I had tried it and never saw much difference. (I have the joy of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and am constantly looking for magical fixes and at one point was taking a small country's GNP of pills and potions and powders every day...and never saw a significant difference.) But radio lady said to take lots, like 10,000ius. So I bought some and holy supplement, within a couple of days I had more energy than I have had in years.
A week later I went to my doctor who is into endocrinology, and my blood tests showed that I was indeed Vitamin D deficient just. like. Oprah. and I was shocked! Stunned! Flabbergasted! When I told the nurse that I had been taking so much lately, she replied, "Well then just think about how deficient you must have been a month ago."
I always thought that, living in
The FDA recommends 400ius a day, but that is just the amount that is needed to prevent rickets - we need much more than 400ius to receive the benefits of it, and there are many many benefits. I could cite you all kinds of statistics about cancer prevention and all that but you are as acquainted with Dr. Google as I am. All I know is Momma Has Energy.
Last week someone asked Dr. Oz if he could only give one directive, what would it be - and he said Take Vitamin D. Hello! Dr. Oz and I are in cahoots! What more do you need?
I take two to four 5000iu capsules every night and I give my kiddos 400ius (Nature Made has yummy orange chewables) in addition to the 400 in their multivitamins. No, it does not give them more energy - because I don't think that is possible for my spaz monkeys. But it is believed that Vitamin D is more effective than a flu shot and preventing the flu - and the week after I started taking it, everyone in my family got a nasty bug - except moi. Color me convinced.
Another bonus? Vitamin D is one of the cheapest vitamins you can buy, especially when you get buy one get one free.
Just in case you care, I also take a B complex, 4 fish oils, and I love me a good niacin flush. And I can't stop popping the kids' gummy multivitamins. Honestly, I just have to put the bottle down and walk away. The kids get a gummy multi and two Little Critters Omega 3s in addition to the D - which taste disgusting (Gummy + Fish = totally gag me with a gummy fish dude) but the kids love them. I am also a huge fan of probiotics but I am out at the moment.
Totally Awesome Two Minute Tip #2 coming your way tomorrow.
So I know y'all have some good tips. Lay em on me!
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Adoption Update - He Did It!
First, information about Ethiopia is dicey, but it seems the pace is picking up. I am hoping we have our referral around September. I don't think we'll travel until 2012. Having her home by Easter is my goal (remember when this past Easter was my goal? Ah, me and my plans.)
But I have a pretty wonderful announcement.
Today I asked Lifesong for Orphans, the organization that gave us a matching grant for the adoption, to send us an update on our giving. As of today, $6,719.00 has been donated.
Kingsland Baptist, here in Katy/Houston, a church that doesn't know us from Adam but wanted to help us bring our daughter home, agreed to to match up to $4,000.00.
That means we have $10,719 waiting in our Bethie fund.
Upon referral, we will owe Gladney $6,850.00. Which leaves us almost $4,000.00 to travel with - I was planning on setting aside about $6,000 for the two trips.
We can handle the excess if we need to.
We are funded.
Bethie's adoption is funded.
God has funded the adoption for his baby girl.
In October of 2009, I looked at all the paperwork for our adoption, and realized that I would need about $4,000 to begin. We didn't have $4,000. Discouraged, I said a short prayer, basically consisting of three words: "Do it, Lord."
The next day my husband called me from work and said that he would be receiving an unexpected bonus of $4,000.
Since then, God has showed off over and over and over and over and over.
On that Lifesong list of names are a few people whom I knew would contribute (like, my parents - love you GG and BJ!) and a whole lot of people who have just amazed me immeasurably with their generosity. There are names on there of people I don't even know, y'all, and doubt I will ever meet this side of Heaven. Lots of you are reading right now.
I've gotten emails from people saying, "I don't know you and you don't know me, but I feel like God is telling me to give this money to you." $1,700.00 of that money comes from y'all - people I've never even met.
I've also gotten checks from some of y'all for small amounts - and I get it, because I recently did the same for my friend Michelle. I don't have a lot of cash lying around obviously, but I want to be part of baby Selah's story - even if it is only an itty bitty part. Those small checks touch my heart as much as the big ones. Two friends of ours who are unemployed each tucked $10 in their Christmas cards and I wept over those even more than the $1000 checks.
On top of all that, after Christmas we began a Financial Peace University course at our church. So as of three days ago, my friends:
WE'RE DEBT FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We have paid off all our debt.
And we have been blessed with approximately $30,000 to bring home our daughter.
And I haven't actually added it up, but I know we provided less than $1,000.00 of that.
The other day I was listening to Dave Ramsey on the radio when a man called in saying he felt led to adopt, but he did not have the funds. Dave said no. Dave said he did not think it was from God if the funds weren't already there.
Dave, I love you, I respect you, but you are 100% wrong on that one.
We have paid off all our debt.
And we have been blessed with approximately $30,000 to bring home our daughter.
And I haven't actually added it up, but I know we provided less than $1,000.00 of that.
The other day I was listening to Dave Ramsey on the radio when a man called in saying he felt led to adopt, but he did not have the funds. Dave said no. Dave said he did not think it was from God if the funds weren't already there.
Dave, I love you, I respect you, but you are 100% wrong on that one.
Because as I have had to remind myself over and over, and will no doubt have to keep reminding myself even after we get her home, this is not our adoption. This is Bethlehem Dollahon's adoption. This is the Lord's adoption.
And the Lord owns the cattle on a thousand hills so He's not really sweating over $30,000.
How can we ever thank you enough, who have given to our daughter so generously??
But do you really know what you've done for us, and all of our children?
How can our precious girl, who may not even be born yet, ever doubt how much the Lord loves her when we tell her this story?? How can she ever doubt that He will provide for her every need when He provided such a fortune to bring her home?? How can she ever doubt that she is an important warrior in His army, when He fought so hard for her life??
How can any of our other children ever doubt that they do not have the power to do any crazy thing through Christ who strengthens them, after seeing how He has blessed their family so abundantly??
How can you ever doubt that the Lord won't provide you with whatever you need in order to advance His kingdom?
There are millions more Bethies out there.
My friends, I dare you to dare Him.
It takes just three little words: "Do it, Lord..."
Now may the God of peace,
who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus,
that great Shepherd of the sheep,
equip you with everything good for doing his will,
and may he work in us what is pleasing to him,
through Jesus Christ,
to whom be glory for ever
and ever.
Amen!
Hebrews 13:20
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