Top 10 Reasons to Host an Orphan this Christmas

Dear Friends and Family of New Horizons for Children:
THE GOOD NEWS: We still have space available for a great Mission Trip this Christmas! For the price of just one person, your whole family (including the kids) and your friends, can participate in a 4 week Mission Trip, and you won't even need to pack a suitcase ... we will send the Mission to your home! Through New Horizons for Children open your home to an orphan from Latvia or Ukraine and share God's love and your love with a child who may never have experienced that love before (or ever get a chance to, except through YOU!)

THE GREAT NEWS: We received some scholarships to help defray the cost for you to go on this international mission trip!
God is holy and perfect but there is a wide gap between Him and us. That’s why He started the very first mission trip when He sent his Son, Jesus to earth to reach us! Now, you can follow His perfect example and bridge the gap between Him and an orphaned child from Ukraine or Latvia.

Everyone has different reasons they love missions.
Here’s a list of our 10 favorites!
 1. PURELY, GOD APPROVED
James 1:27 - Religion that God the Father accepts as pure and without fault is this: caring for orphans or widows who need help, and keeping yourself free from the world's evil influence.
2. IT WON’T BREAK THE BANK
A 4-week long mission trip that your whole family can go on together AND you can take your friends with you! Partial scholarships have already been added to help defray the cost of this trip! You only have to pack for your mission ONE TIME!
3. RESULTS GUARANTEED
Psalm 10:14 - But you know all about it— the contempt, the abuse. I dare to believe that the luckless will get lucky someday in you. You won't let them down: orphans won't be orphans forever.
4. LIKE-MINDED FRIENDS and ADVOCATES
This road isn’t supposed to be walked alone. Meet and connect with hundreds of other families on the same mission trip that you are on along with all the staff and volunteers around the country who have been many times and are great leaders!
5. DIVINE PLACEMENT
Psalms 68:5-6 - Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—this is God, whose dwelling is holy. God places the lonely in families.
6. SPECIALIZED PRE-MISSION TRIP TRAINING
For those wanting to go even deeper and truly experience a life changing REAL MISSION TRIP, we provide training by experienced speakers in many locations around the country. Learn about cultural differences, language barriers (how to smash them) and hear from past host children who were later adopted. You'll also hear from past host families who discovered that the blessing they THOUGHT they were giving to their host child, came back to them a million times more! Your mission team leaders will explain and share how, as a family, you can get the most from your mission. On line discussion groups and bonus conference calls from the team’s director provide an even greater understanding of what to expect, how to handle specific situations and get the most from the entire mission trip!
7. MEET JESUS! HE COMES RIGHT INTO YOUR OWN HOME!
Matthew 18:5 - And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me.
8. REALIZE THE CAUSE OF THE FATHERLESS; MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Some of the world’s fatherless children have a lot to give! Learn from them while you share His love and be the hands and feet of Christ to a child who might never see or feel this without your participation! Build their self-esteem and feeling of self-worth while showing them they DO have a Father! 1 Thes 2:8 - We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us
9. FREE STUFF!
Every family who signs up to host a child receives the following, absolutely and completely by grace: blessings, love, attention from a child who never had much, and God’s love and appreciation for eternity! You might even be the first person who ever gave a hug to the child you receive as your mission AND get their first one offered in return!
10. BEAUTIFUL WEATHER
Isaiah 58:10 - If you feed those who are hungry and take care of the needs of those who are troubled, then your light will shine in the darkness, and you will be bright like sunshine at noon.
Plus One more to think about...Don’t be stagnant. Go out and DO ministry, DO missions and GO fishing for the KING! Realize, all disciples are Christians, but not all Christians are disciples. Be a DISCIPLE!

Matthew 25:40 - Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.'



Struggling with fear and doubt? Feeling weak and inadequate? GOOD! Trust and Obey!

2 Timothy 1
⁷ For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Proverbs 24
Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to die;
save them as they stagger to their death.
¹² Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “Look, we didn’t know.”
For God understands all hearts, and he sees you.
He who guards your soul knows you knew.
He will repay all people as their actions deserve.
James 4
17 If anyone, then, know the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them.
Psalm 62
Let all that I am wait quietly before God,
for my hope is in him.
⁶ He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress where I will not be shaken.
⁷ My victory and honor come from God alone.
He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.
⁸ O my people, trust in him at all times.
Pour out your heart to him,
for God is our refuge.
2Corinthians 12
⁹ Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

What is orphan hosting?

Jesus Called, He Has Your Peace

The Battle for Your Mind

A lot of folks have spoken lately of the battle they fight everyday in their minds. Depression, anxiety, discouragement, despair,- as compared to what they long for: Joy, peace, courage, and love.
It keeps calling to mind a devotion I read from Jesus Calling* by Sarah Young on September 19:

There is a mighty battle going on for control of your mind. Heaven and earth intersect in your mind; the tugs of both spheres influence your thinking. I created you with the capacity to experience foretastes of heaven. When you shut out the world and focus on My Presence, you can enjoy sitting with Me in heavenly realms. This is an incredible privilege reserved for precious ones who belong to Me and seek My Face. Your greatest strength is your desire to spend time communing with Me. As you concentrate on Me, My Spirit fills your mind with Life and Peace.

The world exerts a downward pull on your thoughts. Media bombards you with greed, lust, and cynicism. When you face these things, pray for protection and discernment. Stay in continual communication with Me whenever you walk through the wastelands of this world. Refuse to worry, because this form of worldliness will weigh you down and block awareness of My Presence. Stay alert, recognising the battle being waged against your mind. Look forward to an eternity of strife-free living, reserved for you in heaven.

Ephesians 2:6;  ⁶ and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 

Psalm 27:8; When You said, “Seek My face,”
My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.”
Romans 8:6;  ⁶ For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

1 John 2:15-17 ¹⁵ Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. ¹⁷ And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

*If you buy anything through Amazon, go through the New Horizons for Children link, and a percentage of your purchase will go to New Horizons!

Funny feeling

I was just scrolling through the photo listing. My heart has such a funny feeling because one certain Anastasija is not listed there; she will be with her forever family for Christmas this year. Praise God.

Please go to the New Horizons website and sign up to be able to view the photolisting. Please allow God to move in your heart- maybe He will lead you to pray for, give a scholarship for, or host a certain child. Without intervention, upon leaving the orphanage, 60% of girls will end up in prostitution, 70% of boys will be on the streets or in jail, and 15% will commit suicide within the first two years on their own.

I will never ever forget how I felt after I saw Anastasija's picture there, sandwiched in with hundreds of other little people. God just put that girl in my heart in a way that could not be ignored. Go ahead and scroll through those pics, and see what God might do to your heart.

(It's Joy. What you see there is Joy. You want some? Give this Christmas Away.)

XO

Tomato soup

13 chopped medium fresh tomatoes
1 chopped  onion
2 chopped cloves garlic
5 whole cloves
2 t basil
1 t thyme
2 cups chicken or beef broth
1/4 C bacon grease

1/4 C all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon sugar, or to taste

salt and pepper to taste

 

Saute onions, garlic, cloves, basil, and thyme in a tablespoon of olive oil in your stock pot. Add tomatoes. Cook till everything is soft and smells lovely. Remove cloves. Put everything in the pan through the blender. In empty pot, heat bacon grease, stir in flour, brown. Add blender stuff back to pan, stirring well. Add broth, sugar, salt and pepper.

 

 

And I will look up

I think you all know that my heart breaks for the killing of our most innocent and defensless people- the babies not yet born.
My heart is very heavy as we approach this election- our current president encourages women to kill their children and does everything in His power to ensure that they won't even have to pay for it.
I worry about the judgement of God on our once-Christian nation. He does not tolerate the merciless killing of the defenseless. In fact, He is their Defender.
I pray that we will heed His call to repentance. I pray that in November our country will choose to elect leaders that are more in line with God's ways than the leaders we currently I have. I pray that the tide will turn and our hearts will soften. I pray for revival in our land, that this country that was founded on God's principles would return to Him and continue to receive His blessings and be a Light in this world.

I read Psalm 5 this morning. I think I will be praying it for a while, maybe till November. It sums up what I need to say to God so well.

Give ear to my words, O Lord,
Consider my meditation.
2 Give heed to the voice of my cry,
My King and my God,
For to You I will pray.
3 My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord;
In the morning I will direct it to You,
And I will look up.

4 For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness,
Nor shall evil dwell with You.
5 The boastful shall not stand in Your sight;
You hate all workers of iniquity.
6 You shall destroy those who speak falsehood;
The Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

7 But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy;
In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple.
8 Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness because of my enemies;
Make Your way straight before my face.

9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth;
Their inward part is destruction;
Their throat is an open tomb;
They flatter with their tongue.
10 Pronounce them guilty, O God!
Let them fall by their own counsels;
Cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions,
For they have rebelled against You.

11 But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You;
Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them;
Let those also who love Your name
Be joyful in You.
12 For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous;
With favor You will surround him as with a shield.

Opening my mouth for the innocent, for those sentenced to die.
XO

DISTURBING IMAGE BELOW. GET YOUR KIDS AWAY FROM YOUR COMPUTER.











I am sorry to include this picture. I am sorry that it is necessary. But it is necessary.

Ingredients for a happy morning

Pray this prayer:
Lord, please watch over Anastasija.


Eat this for breakfast:
Baked Blueberry & Peach Oatmeal Recipe
Ingredients

• 3 cups old-fashioned oats
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 2  teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1-1/4 cups coconut milk
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups sliced fresh peaches
• 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

Directions

• In a large bowl, combine the oats, brown sugar, baking powder and salt. Whisk the eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; add to dry ingredients and stir until blended. Let stand for 5 minutes. Stir in peaches and blueberries.
• Transfer to an 11-in. x 7-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until top is lightly browned and a thermometer reads 160°. Serve with additional milk if desired. Yield: 9 servings.

Receive this email:
Dear Madam,

Ministry sends you an information letter about adoptable girl for
REBISZ family.

Please find the information letter in the attachment of this mail.

Please pray that Arwyn's passport gets here ASAP! We're going to be traveling soon.

XO


 

Midnight Bread, or, Audacious Prayer

Well, I just Skyped with Anastasija, and we have a prayer request.
All of the paperwork is in Latvia, just waiting to be looked at and approved.
All we are waiting for is for a judge to refer Anastasija to our family and give us a travel date.
This usually takes 2-4 months. There is a lot of room for a miracle in there, don't you think? All we need is for our file to miraculously appear at the top of the pile, and for the judge to think, "Hmm, let's send that referral out today. Maybe those folks would like to come in September."

Because, we serve a very big God, who can go all 007 on that court (you know- sneaking in there, hanging from a rope, putting our file on the top of the pile, zapping folks on the head with good ideas like, "Let's do this one today! They seem like lovely people"...use your imagination here) and get our referral done whenever He wants.

So, pray that audacious prayer with me that blows 2-4 months out of the water and gets us there before you can say "Little Anastaija from Latvia is going to be a Rebisz in America."

XO
Joce

A Friend Comes at Midnight

⁵ And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; ⁶ for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; ⁷ and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? ⁸ I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.

Communion Affirmation of Faith

Brilyn has been asking for about 2 years if she can participate in communion at church. We have held off, because we take it seriously. "Whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body" (1 Corinthians 11)
So, I was waiting to see fruit in her life that absolutely would confirm her faith and commitment to Christ. And, then, I started seeing it. Real heart change. Real fruit of the Spirit that cannot be faked. Love, joy, and peace just flowing out of her. And generosity! Such a giving spirit. She's at the age where "Me and Mine" usually reign supreme, but she is all about caring for others. So, it's time for her to join the body of believers in communion. Oh happy day! To mark the day, give weight to the importance of the occasion, and to make sure she has a solid belief and understanding before partaking of the elements, we will ask her a few questions before the church on the day she receives communion for the first time.

Do you believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth?
Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the
Virgin Mary, was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now
seated at the right hand of the Father?
Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic* Church, the communion of
saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life
everlasting?
Do you understand that the bread and the wine represent Christ's body and blood
which was shed for you, that your sins might be forgiven?

To each question Brilyn will answer, "I do."
Celebrant:  "This is our faith. This is the faith of the Church. We are proud to profess
it, in Christ Jesus our Lord."
All: "Amen."

I was going over these questions with Brilyn, to explain anything she might have questions about, and to clarify any complicated language.

What a beautiful conversation we had! How blessed am I to have a lovely daughter who loves God, and who, in the communion of saints, is also my sister! She was so excited when we talked about that. She said, "So, you're my sister, daddy's my brother, and Jesus is our brother, and God is our Father? Cool!" She also observed, "So, the communion of saints is like one big party of all the people who ever believed in Jesus that goes forever and ever?"

At the end of the conversation, we were talking about baptism, and I said that you get baptized when you decide to follow Jesus. She said, " Oh! I want to follow Jesus. I want to be a disciple, just like Jesus' disciples a long time ago, and follow Jesus around for real."  And then after a pause, "Does that mean I need to give away my ponies? Because Jesus said to give our stuff away and follow Him. But, that would be hard because my ponies all have personalities and if I give them away I would really miss them." We talked that one over for a long time, and then she said, "Well, I could give them away for a really important reason, if God told me to."

Hallelujah!  We should let her preach, she puts things so plainly. Praise God that He has given her such understanding of spiritual things.

XO
Joce

*of, relating to, or forming the church universal

Now. Don't that beet all?

I'm pickling beets today. I bought them at the LeRoy farmer party. Joe's pickling pickles and hanging tree stands. Jessup's playing on top of Joe's car, which he is not allowed to do -on account of my cousin breaking her arm falling off a car when I was little.
I walk outside in my apron, take that little naked-heiny, potty-training boy by the hand and start to bring him on into the house when I think, "I'll go get the mail while I'm out here."
So, Jessup, with his nakeybutt, and I, with my lovely apron and frizzy, just-washed-a-hundred-beets hair-do, walk down to the mailbox.
I told Jessup he could carry the mail, but there is a big, fat Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services envelope in there, so I take that out and see what those folks have to say.
I yell over to Joe, who's just watering the cow like nothing exciting is happening, "Hey! I think this letter has something good to say!"

Yeah. That's right. We are now a USCIS approved family to adopt a child from Latvia. Yup. Mail that dossier, baby!

XO

The darkness and the light

Sometimes I write with the fact that other people read what I write in mind. Sometimes I just write what needs to be written. Today is an example of the latter.

I am overwhelmed. I have prayed to God that He would "break my heart for what breaks yours." And, He has answered. Sometimes grief for this world just washes over me. It happened early this morning as I was tucking my sweet fat baby into her crib, and she was smiling and eating her feet and just looking at me with the greatest trust. I felt a twinge of sadness for the number of women who do not receive that gift- but prevent it through various methods of birth control or who have their child murdered and allow that awful violence against their own child to occur inside the God-given ultimate safety of their womb. They have believed the lie that their life is better with few or no children, and that bearing children is not as worthy as other pursuits. And their lives are barren, not blessed, because of it.

And then, at breakfast, I was reading World magazine about China's one child policy. They mentioned the story of Feng Jianmei, who was violently forced to have an abortion at 7 months; a photo was taken of her dead baby lying next to her on the hospital bed. How can I just go about my day when that is happening? My heart is broken. My stomach is in knots. My hands are balled into fists and my teeth are clenched.

God have mercy on China. God have mercy on the US. God have mercy on us who do little or nothing to turn this tide.

If we do nothing else, I pray that we will at least take this Proverb to heart:
31:8"Open your mouth for the speechless,
In the cause of all who are appointed to die.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And plead the cause of the poor and needy."

When this latest story of China's aggregious human rights violations came out a while back, I did not want to learn more about it. I did not want to think about what happened to Feng. I did not click on the links. I did not look at the picture. But God's heart is broken and He has broken mine despite my efforts to turn away from that kind of pain. It's too close to my heart. It's too much.

But God has a good plan. There is hope. There is life. There is light. And it's me. It's you. We are to be hope and life and light to this world. I pray that God helps me to shine in the dark places. That He leads me today to the person who needs light. That this grief in my deepest soul will be productive. That I will not turn away from the pain in the world and hide in my comfy space.
God has lit a fire in my soul and I will let it consume me.

Would you pray? Will you get on your knees and pray for the end of forced abortion in China? Will you pray that women's eyes will be opened in America that children are not a "punishment" but a gift?

Shine out children of God. Let's shine.

14 years of slavery, or Real Beauty

Peace be with you.

1 Peter 3: 3-5
³ Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. ⁴ You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. ⁵ This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful.

A few years ago, I was getting ready to go to MOPS. I was putting on my mascara, because I ALWAYS put on mascara before leaving the house at that time. ("That time" =Ages 14-28) I was yelling at my kiddos to GET THEIR SHOES ON! FIND THEIR COATS! AHHHHHHHHHHHH!
And then, the 1 Peter verses came to mind. The Holy Spirit put them there, I'm sure.
And I realized that I spent all my time getting our bodies ready for MOPS, feeding, clothing, etc. and NO time getting our spirits ready for the day.
And I knew that God wanted me to skip the mascara and check in with Him through prayer and Bible reading instead. And to nuture my kids' souls, and not care so much that they wear matching clothes. Who am I trying to impress? Wouldn't the moms at MOPS be more blessed if I and my children walk in smiling and a bit frumpy than if we walk in looking all matchy and pretty with grumpy faces?
I quit my slavery to outward appearances that day. I put peace and joy before clean and matching. And God is good, and we are still almost always clean. LOL
And God really does bless others through my less than perfect looking family of 6 soon to be 7. There's a stain on my blouse, but a happy, cooing baby in my arms that people can't get enough of.
Cade's hair is sticking up, but he is holding an old lady's hand telling her about something (apparently) fascinating.
Praise God for His goodness. And for the freedom He gives. Letting go of my mascara wand has brought me great joy and freedom.
I had to let go of wanting people to think I'm pretty, but guess what? I'm only fair-to-middling, even with make up. LOL
But with Christ's love shining out of my face, I'm RADIANT!  RADIANT!
L'oreal can't put that in a bottle.
XO
Jocelyn

How to be rich...

....in mind, if not in money.
Or-

I grew up hearing these sayings over and over. They are part of who I am. If you ever wondered how we live so happily on one teacher's salary, here are a few pointers.

Eat what you can. What you can't eat, can.

Take all you want. Eat all you take.

Waste not, want not.

A penny saved is a penny earned.

Want in one hand and 'spit'* in the other and see which one fills up first.

Don't waste food. Don't you know there are starving children in Africa?

Make it do or do without.

A fool and his money are soon parted.

Please feel free to comment and I'll add any excellent adages you share to this post.

XO

*edited for cleanliness

Blackberry-Strawberry-Blueberry-Elderberry Preserves

Blackberry-Strawberry-Blueberry-Elderberry Preserves

9 C Blackberries
2 C Strawberries
2 C Blueberries
2 C Elderberries
1/3 C All Natural Dutch Gel
1/3 C Lemon Juice
5 C Sugar

Mash all berries and Dutch Gel and Lemon Juice in a large pot. Heat over medium high heat until boiling. Add all the sugar at once (Pre-measure into medium bowl.) Bring to boil. Boil for 1 minute.
Follow safe and sanitary canning procedures, process in hot water bath at a boil for 15 minutes.

Looking ahead

I just skyped with Anastasija.
I am so glad for that priviledge.
She looks healthy and happy and her English seems to be getting even better.
We talked about what I have planted in my garden- beets for borscht and tomatoes for pizza sauce, two things she likes to eat. It is so wonderful to think that the food I am growing today will be ready for her to eat when she comes home.

I have been thinking a lot lately about how my family will look in a few months. We will have 5 kids- an 11 year old, a 7 year old, a 5 year old, a 2 year old, and a none-year old. I have already started hanging Anastasija's dresses in the closet next to Brilyn's- they are just a little longer than Bri's. I have a pair of shoes that someone gave us that will probably fit Anastasija when she gets here- I didn't put them into storage, I just put them in the shoe bin.
Brilyn has been talking about camp next summer, and it has started to sink in that next summer I will have a 12 YEAR OLD to plan camp for.
I have been preparing for the coming school year- I will have a Kindergartner, a second grader, and a fifth grader. I wonder where she will be academically?  Will she be a willing learner, or will it be like pulling teeth? We'll see! As we will for Cade, as well.

I already have a read aloud planned for bedtime reading when we have a boys' room and a girls' room: For the girls- Ella Enchanted. For the boys- whatever Joe wants to read!

Each night when I tuck my kids in and bless them, I pray for Anastasija. It always hurts a little, blessing my child who is so far from home. I know that God's timing is perfect, but I always ask Him if He can put a rush on things to spare my heart, and hers. And in the mean time, could He please keep an extra close eye on her. Talk about having to trust your children to the Lord- there is not one little thing I can to do keep her safe but pray- which, when I think about it, is truly the BIGGEST thing you can do for any of your children, near or far.

Well, for now I will be thankful for Skype, and wait, knowing that God has a perfect plan. And He can keep my heart in perfect peace while I wait.

XO


Let's get all these kiddos under one roof, shall we?

Update on The Paperwork

Okay, so this is a little complicated and Joe has kind of been handling a lot of it, but here's the gist of the situation.

We finished our home study. We now need to get it certified and apostilled. We need to pick up our clearances from the sheriff's office, and then we can mail it to the appropriate places.

We filled out some I 800 blah blah blah form (honestly it sounds more like the name of an interstate highway than an adoption form) for the USCIS. That has been mailed.

Our adoption agency has sent our prelimiary home study forms to Latvia. They are currently being translated into Latvian. As soon as the USCIS clears us to adopt internationally, our agent in Latvia (whose name is Daina, if you want to pray for her) will submit our translated paperwork to the Latvian judge in charge of adoptions in that area. Then, that judge will give us a travel date.

This whole deal could take as little as 5 weeks, or up to four months. Please keep this timing in prayer. Anastasija is waiting for her family to show up and bring her home. I asked her foster mom what Anastasija might want for her birthday. She responded, " for Anastasija the biggest gift from God is you, she is sleeping and dreaming of living near you. Other gifts do not need. She loves you and is waiting!"

Keep praying! Your prayers make such a difference. We can see the hand of God in our lives as we travel this adoption road.

I love how God continues to move in people's hearts to be praying for us. I love it when people approach me and say, "I can't stop praying for you guys. You are always on my heart and mind."
I know that it is God who is impressing on these folks to pray.

Wow. Who are we that God is mindful of us?
XO

Joce

Strawberry Jam for Sale

Strawberry Jam for Sale

I picked the strawberries and I made them into jam pretty much by myself. I hope you will like it. Please make a donation for my jam. I will give the money to help adopt my older sister Anastasija.

Sincerely,

Brilyn Rebisz

age 7

If you are interested in making a donation and enjoying some of Brilyn's jam, please contact me via email, blog comment, or facebook.

Amount raised by Brilyn's Jam Sale thus far: $140.00

Pickled Garlic Scapes

Garlic scapes, broken into 3 inch pieces, packed as tightly as possible in 12 oz jelly jars. Add 1/2 t crushed red pepper and 1/2 t peppercorn steak spice mix to each jar.

Per 12 oz jelly jar:
1/2-3/4 C vinegar (amount of brine depends on how tightly you can shove those ornery little scapes into the jars)
1/2-3/4 C water
1 T canning salt

Bring brine to boil, pour over scapes and spices already in jars. (Follow accepted canning sterilizing procedures for prepping your jars). Leave 1/2 inch headspace. Boiling water bath 10 minutes.

Garlic Scape and Feta Quiche

2 cups goat milk
4 eggs
3/4 cup biscuit baking mix
2 T butter, softened

2 T margarine, softened

4 garlic scapes, chopped fine

¼ C goat milk feta, chopped fine

Salt and pepper to taste

Pour into greased pie plate or cast iron pan, bake at 375 for 45 minutes.

Jessup says

Say these out loud and see if you can figure out what he is talking about:

foy weewah
Sizzahwahs
Da Puffets











Okay. The answers are:
four wheeler
Twizzlers
The Muppets

Still relevant

Mother Theresa Confronts America

Excerpt of Mother Theresa's address at
the United Nations' "International Conference on Population and Development", held in Cairo on Sept 5 -13, 1994

(The Western countries, especially the United States, came to this conference with one of their major goals being to pressure developing countries to liberalize their abortion laws in order to combat overpopulation)
I was surprised in the West to see so many young boys and girls given to drugs. And I tried to find out why. Why is it like that, when those in the West have so many more things than those in the East? And the answer was: 'Because there is no one in the family to receive them.' Our children depend on us for everything - their health, their nutrition, their security, their coming to know and love God. For all of this, they look to us with trust, hope and expectation. But often father and mother are so busy they have no time for their children, or perhaps they are not even married or have given up on their marriage. So their children go to the streets and get involved in drugs or other things. We are talking of love of the child, which is were love and peace must begin. These are the things that break peace.
But I feel that the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion, because it is a war against the child, a direct killing of the innocent child, murder by the mother herself. And if we accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill one another? How do we persuade a woman not to have an abortion? As always, we must persuade her with love and we remind ourselves that love means to be willing to give until it hurts. Jesus gave even His life to love us. So, the mother who is thinking of abortion, should be helped to love, that is, to give until it hurts her plans, or her free time, to respect the life of her child. The father of that child, whoever he is, must also give until it hurts.
By abortion, the mother does not learn to love, but kills even her own child to solve her problems. And, by abortion, that father is told that he does not have to take any responsibility at all for the child he has brought into the world. The father is likely to put other women into the same trouble. So abortion just leads to more abortion. Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want. This is why the greatest destroyer of love and peace is abortion.
Many people are very, very concerned with the children of India, with the children of Africa where quite a few die of hunger, and so on. Many people are also concerned about all the violence in this great country of the United States. These concerns are very good. But often these same people are not concerned with the millions who are being killed by the deliberate decision of their own mothers. And this is what is the greatest destroyer of peace today - abortion which brings people to such blindness.
And for this I appeal in India and I appeal everywhere - "Let us bring the child back." The child is God's gift to the family. Each child is created in the special image and likeness of God for greater things - to love and to be loved. In this year of the family we must bring the child back to the center of our care and concern. This is the only way that our world can survive because our children are the only hope for the future. As older people are called to God, only their children can take their places.
But what does God say to us? He says: "Even if a mother could forget her child, I will not forget you. I have carved you in the palm of my hand." We are carved in the palm of His hand; that unborn child has been carved in the hand of God from conception and is called by God to love and to be loved, not only now in this life, but forever. God can never forget us.
I will tell you something beautiful. We are fighting abortion by adoption - by care of the mother and adoption for her baby. We have saved thousands of lives. We have sent word to the clinics, to the hospitals and police stations: "Please don't destroy the child; we will take the child." So we always have someone tell the mothers in trouble: "Come, we will take care of you, we will get a home for your child." And we have a tremendous demand from couples who cannot have a child - but I never give a child to a couple who have done something not to have a child. Jesus said, "Anyone who receives a child in my name, receives me." By adopting a child, these couples receive Jesus but, by aborting a child, a couple refuses to receive Jesus.
Please don't kill the child. I want the child. Please give me the child. I am willing to accept any child who would be aborted and to give that child to a married couple who will love the child and be loved by the child. From our children's home in Calcutta alone, we have saved over 3000 children from abortion. These children have brought such love and joy to their adopting parents and have grown up so full of love and joy.
I know that couples have to plan their family and for that there is natural family planning. The way to plan the family is natural family planning, not contraception. In destroying the power of giving life, through contraception, a husband or wife is doing something to self. This turns the attention to self and so it destroys the gifts of love in him or her. In loving, the husband and wife must turn the attention to each other as happens in natural family planning, and not to self, as happens in contraception. Once that living love is destroyed by contraception, abortion follows very easily.
I also know that there are great problems in the world - that many spouses do not love each other enough to practice natural family planning. We cannot solve all the problems in the world, but let us never bring in the worst problem of all, and that is to destroy love. And this is what happens when we tell people to practice contraception and abortion.
The poor are very great people. They can teach us so many beautiful things. Once one of them came to thank us for teaching her natural family planning and said: "You people who have practiced chastity, you are the best people to teach us natural family planning because it is nothing more than self-control out of love for each other." And what this poor person said is very true. These poor people maybe have nothing to eat, maybe they have not a home to live in, but they can still be great people when they are spiritually rich.
When I pick up a person from the street, hungry, I give him a plate of rice, a piece of bread. But a person who is shut out, who feels unwanted, unloved, terrified, the person who has been thrown out of society - that spiritual poverty is much harder to overcome. And abortion, which often follows from contraception, brings a people to be spiritually poor, and that is the worst poverty and the most difficult to overcome.
Those who are materially poor can be very wonderful people. One evening we went out and we picked up four people from the street. And one of them was in a most terrible condition. I told the Sisters: "You take care of the other three; I will take care of the one who looks worse." So I did for her all that my love can do. I put her in bed, and there was such a beautiful smile on her face. She took hold of my hand, as she said one word only: "thank you" - and she died.
I could not help but examine my conscience before her. And I asked: "What would I say if I were in her place?" And my answer was very simple. I would have tried to draw a little attention to myself. I would have said: "I am hungry, I am dying, I am cold, I am in pain," or something. But she gave me much more - she gave me her grateful love. And she died with a smile on her face. Then there was the man we picked up from the drain, half eaten by worms and, after we had brought him to the home, he only said, "I have lived like an animal in the street, but I am going to die as an angel, loved and cared for." Then, after we had removed all the worms from his body, all he said, with a big smile, was: "Sister, I am going home to God" - and he died. It was so wonderful to see the greatness of that man who could speak like that without blaming anybody, without comparing anything. Like an angel - this is the greatness of people who are spiritually rich even when they are materially poor.
We are not social workers. We may be doing social work in the eyes of some people, but we must be contemplatives in the heart of the world. For we must bring that presence of God into your family, for the family that prays together, stays together. There is so much hatred, so much misery, and we with our prayer, with our sacrifice, are beginning at home. Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do, but how much love we put into what we do.
If we are contemplatives in the heart of the world with all its problems, these problems can never discourage us. We must always remember what God tells us in Scripture: "Even if a mother could forget the child in her womb" - something impossible, but even if she could forget - "I will never forget you."
And so here I am talking with you. I want you to find the poor here, right in your own home first. And begin love there. Be that good news to your own people first. And find out about your next-door neighbors. Do you know who they are?
I had the most extraordinary experience of love of neighbor with a Hindu family. A gentleman came to our house and said: "Mother Teresa, there is a family who have not eaten for so long. Do something." So I took some rice and went there immediately. And I saw the children - their eyes shining with hunger. I don't know if you have ever seen hunger. But I have seen it very often. And the mother of the family took the rice I gave her and went out. When she came back, I asked her: "Where did you go? What did you do?" And she gave me a very simple answer: "They are hungry also." What struck me was that she knew - and who are they? A Muslim family - and she knew. I didn't bring any more rice that evening because I wanted them, Hindus and Muslims, to enjoy the joy of sharing.
But there were those children, radiating joy, sharing the joy and peace with their mother because she had the love to give until it hurts. And you see this is where love begins - at home in the family.
So, as the example of this family shows, God will never forget us and there is something you and I can always do. We can keep the joy of loving Jesus in our hearts, and share that joy with all we come in contact with. Let us make that one point - that no child will be unwanted, unloved, uncared for, or killed and thrown away. And give until it hurts - with a smile.
Because I talk so much of giving with a smile, once a professor from the United States asked me: "Are you married?" And I said: "Yes, and I find it sometimes very difficult to smile at my spouse, Jesus, because He can be very demanding - sometimes." This is really something true. And this is where love comes in - when it is demanding, and yet we can give it with joy.
One of the most demanding things for me is travelling everywhere - and with publicity. I have said to Jesus that if I don't go to heaven for anything else, I will be going to heaven for all the travelling with all the publicity, because it has purified me and sacrificed me and made me really ready to go to heaven.

If we remember that God loves us, and that we can love others as He loves us, then America can become a sign of peace for the world. From here, a sign of care for the weakest of the weak - the unborn child - must go out to the world. If you become a burning light of justice and peace in the world, then really you will be true to what the founders of this country stood for. God bless you!

Prayer update

Hello friends and family!
We have a prayer request regarding Anastasija's adoption. Our home study is completed, but there has been a question about how to address the fact that we do not vaccinate our children for religious reasons.  More information on the morality of vaccines.
There is some concern that the USCIS or any of the Latvian officials could question this, slowing down our process of adoption. Please pray that God works this situation for the good of our family and for His glory.
Also, Anastasija's birthday is coming up soon, so please pray that we can work out a cool way to celebrate it, even though she is far away. Continue to pray for her as she waits and waits for us to get there and bring her home. She has it the hardest by far, she is completely separated from the rest of us, and she does not have the love of a mother and father watching over her. Pray that God keeps close watch and extends His Fatherly hand of protection over her while she is away from our watchful care.

Thank you for your prayers! It makes all the difference.
XO
Joce

Quick! A gluten-free picnic side-dish

Quinoa Salad

1 C quinoa
2 C water
1/2 t salt
1 C salsa
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can corn, drained
2 T olive oil
2 T minced garlic

Cook quinoa according to package directions (quinoa, water, salt). Combine with the rest of the ingredients (salsa, black beans, corn, olive oil, garlic) in a large bowl. Salt and pepper to taste. Chill.

Let them eat cake. Really.

Today I am making poke cake for my kiddo's birthdays. I distinctly remember the last time I made it. It was for their birthdays in 2009.

My mom was very sick, but she came anyway. It was to be her second to last visit here, ever.
My parents had come up early to celebrate the kids' birthdays. They planned to leave before the party because my mom tired out easily at that time.
So, it came about time for them to hit the road and we decided to have a mini-party and have the kids open their presents before my parents left. Well, you can't open birthday presents without singing Happy Birthday, and you can't sing Happy Birthday without cake and ice cream. But, the cake and ice cream was for the PARTY. And you can't serve already-been-cut cake at a birthday party, can you?
Oh yes you can and I'm glad I did. Because we got to share that delicious poke cake with my mom for my kiddos' birthday and that was the last birthday she ever celebrated with us.

So, my reason for sharing this story is that there are times when it's best to forget social rules, throw them completely out the window, even, in deference to real life, real people, and real memories. Because I don't really remember who came to the birthday party that year (please don't be offended if you were there, k?) but I will always think of my mom when I serve poke cake.

Need to know how to make a poke cake?

So, make a cake and eat it with people you love. And that's some of the best advice that has ever come out of my mouth, or fingertips, depending on how you look at it.

XO

Joce

Open Your Mouth

I love how God uses my time in a GMG study- He always directly and specifically confirms and strengthens His call on me to speak out against abortion and human suffering.

Proverbs 31:
8 Open your mouth for the speechless,
In the cause of all who are appointed to die.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And plead the cause of the poor and needy.

Open my mouth. Sometimes I feel like I should just shut up for a while. Give people a rest. But, is there rest in the abortion clinics? Is there rest for those who are lost in human trafficking? Is there rest for those whose children are dying from starvation?
No. No rest for them. So, I will not rest, and will not give it a rest.

WORLDWIDE
Number of abortions per year: Approximately 42 Million
Number of abortions per day: Approximately 115,000
Where abortions occur:
83% of all abortions are obtained in developing countries and 17% occur in developed countries.
© Copyright 1996-2008, The Alan Guttmacher Institute. (www.agi-usa.org)

UNITED STATES
Number of abortions per year: 1.37 Million (1996); (1.21 million as of 2008)
Number of abortions per day: Approximately 3,700; (3,322 as of 2008)
Who's having abortions (age)?
52% of women obtaining abortions in the U.S. are younger than 25: Women aged 20-24 obtain 32% of all abortions; Teenagers obtain 20% and girls under 15 account for 1.2%.
Who's having abortions (race)?
While white women obtain 60% of all abortions, their abortion rate is well below that of minority women. Black women are more than 3 times as likely as white women to have an abortion, and Hispanic women are roughly 2 times as likely.
Who's having abortions (marital status)?
64.4% of all abortions are performed on never-married women; Married women account for 18.4% of all abortions and divorced women obtain 9.4%.

Who is suffering from abortion? Women and children, minorities, the poor.

Open your mouth.

XO
Joce

A very big adventure

So did you hear that I can't eat dairy?

Well, I have some recipes.

1. Oatmeal Scotchies
3/4 C coconut oil
1 1/2 C brown sugar
1 t baking powder
1/4 t baking soda
1 t cinnamon
2 eggs
1 t vanilla
2 C flour
1 1/2 C oats
1/2 C sunflower seeds

Combine oil and sugar. Add powder, soda, cinnamon. Add eggs and vanilla. Add flour. Add oats and sunflower seeds. Drop by tablespoon onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 375, 7 minutes


2. Chocolate Ice Cream
1/2 C chocolate chips
3 cups goat milk, divided
1/2 C sugar
2 T flour
2 T corn starch
1/4 t salt
4 egg yolks
1 t vanilla

In heavy saucepan, combine chips and 1 C milk. Stir until melted and smooth. Stir in remaining 2 cups milk.
In small bowl, combine sugar, flour, corn starch, and salt. Gradually whisk into chocolate milk in pan. Cook on medium low for a few minutes, stirring occasionally. Turn to low. In bowl, beat egg yolks and vanilla. Slowly whisk about half of the hot stuff from the pan into the egg yolks, then transfer back into pan, whisk in slowly. Cook a few minutes, stirring CONSTANTLY, until thick, smooth, and steaming.

Chill and use an ice cream maker according to manufacturer's directions.

3. Toasted Cheese Sandwiches
Take 2 slices of bread. Eat them plain.

Homestudy- check.

Homestudy- check.
On to Dossier. (dah-see-ay)

Latvia, here we come (in a few months).

God has a good plan. Please keep praying for us. There are many little things that need His hand at work.

God has a good plan. He has provided all we need so far. We have faith that He will continue to do so.

God has a good plan. His timing is perfect, even though we wish Anastasija was already here with us.

God has a good plan. He is watching over our daughter even though she is far away.

God has a good plan. His plan includes a job for everybody who believes. I pray that I will do mine well.

^{Ephesians 2:10} For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

XO

Jessup says

For a nice laugh, just ask Jessup what the baby's name is.

He'll tell you, "Lucas." Completely straight faced.

Ask him again and he'll tell you, "AR-WYN." Like you are hard of hearing.

He's got his own little sense of humor, that's for sure.

What's up...

We are working on filling out all the paperwork required for our homestudy. A homestudy is very in depth, asking for information on our finances, insurance policies, medical history and current health, autobiographical info, extended family information, etc. etc.

We have gathered all the documentation we need for the homestudy and just need to assemble it in the required format and order.

An answer to prayer is that things have really moved along at amazing speeds. Our passports got here in record time, Arwyn's social security card and birth certificate got here within 10 days after her birth!

Thanks for your prayers- keep praying for Godspeed! And keep Brilyn in your prayers as she contemplates and deals with the prospect of having an older sibling. She is a little worried about how that is going to affect her role in the family. (Right now she is the go-to girl and she pretty much runs the place.)

We are trusting God to provide all we need in every aspect of this adoption- spiritually, emotionally, and financially.

2 Corinthians 9
⁸ And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. ⁹ As the Scriptures say,

“They share freely and give generously to the poor.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”

¹⁰ For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.

Thanks for your encouragement and support!
XO
Joce

The BABY!

Arwyn Elisabeth

8 lbs 1 oz

20 inches

March 5, 2012

Banality

If you are not deeply disturbed by 'moral' and 'social' issues like exploitation of orphans through human trafficking and the mass murder of innocent people through abortion, please consider this idea, the 'banality of evil':
This banality stems from "thoughtlessness- the tendency of ordinary people to obey orders and conform to mass opinion without critically thinking about the results of their action or inaction."
-Hannah Arendt,  German-Jewess political theorist, writing about the atrocities commited against humanity by the Nazis

When will we wake up and see what we've done- either by action or inaction- and understand our own role and responsibility, and implicit guilt, in the unspeakable crimes against humanity that happen against the children in our communities and around the world? How will our children's children feel about our response to these issues? Proud? The way we feel about folks who helped slaves find freedom through the underground railroad? Or will they shake their heads and wonder how we could stand idly by? You know, the way we feel about citizens in Germany who watched silently as their neighbors were taken by force from their homes and shipped to concentration camps?

‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing’ Edmund Burke

What are you doing? Just think about that.

Look to the hills

Scripture memorization is a very useful tool in the hands of the Holy Spirit. Today, I was trying to read my Bible- it was not really sinking in. So, I switched to prayer. And God brought to mind a verse I recently memorized:
Psalm 121
I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help
2 My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.

It brought to mind a scene from LOTR- and the words of Gandalf that he spoke to Aragorn prior to this scene:
"Look to my coming on the first light of the fifth day, at dawn look to the east."

You can see when Aragorn remembers this promise, when the light of dawn shines through the window. You can see the difference this remembrance makes. Memorize the promises of God, and when you feel like Uruk-hai are pounding down your last defenses- look to the hills. Lift up your eyes. Here comes your help. Your help comes from God, the maker of heaven and earth. That's even BETTER than Gandalf showing up with the Rohirrim.

This is why...

I have asked for prayer that things will move at God's speed, miraculous speed.
Here is a translation from Latvian (via Google Translate, I don't actually speak Latvian) of my and Anastasija's typed conversation this morning:

Anastasija: when you arrive in Latvia
Jocelyn: I hope to come in the summer
Jocelyn: we just got our passports
Anastasija: I look forward to you (handshake)
Jocelyn Rebisz: and we got our fingerprints done, so that Latvia will know we are good people
Jocelyn Rebisz: When we come, we come for 2 weeks
Jocelyn Rebisz: we will come in the summer, we hope
Jocelyn Rebisz: we will bring the new baby with us you will see
Anastasija: I am very sad for you: (
Jocelyn: I'm sorry it takes so long
Jocelyn Rebisz: it makes me sad to wait so long. I want to come get you as soon as possible
Jocelyn: I pray that God will protect your heart from the very sad as you wait for us
Anastasija: I want to cry, (
Jocelyn Rebisz: every evening, when I pray for Brilyn and Cade, and Jessup, I pray for you also
Jocelyn Rebisz: yes, I cry too. it is difficult to wait for you to return to our home
Anastasija: thank you dear mamuliņ bye
Jocelyn Rebisz: we love you

So, pray.

XO

Home Study

Please pray that we find the home study person God has in mind for our family.
We have one good lead- we are just waiting to hear back from that person.
(Thanks for the tip, Kristen and Andy)

We talked to Anastasija this morning on Skype. She asked us a lot of questions about when we are coming to get her. She was definitely disappointed that it will probably be summer before we get there. So, please pray that things will go according to God's plan and His timing, and that our hearts (mine, Brilyn's, and Anastasija's) will have peace and be comforted as we wait.

XO
Joce

Running errands

Thanks for your prayers for things to go speedy-quick!

This morning we were able to do our finger printing for our FBI background checks and get our passport applications submitted successfully.  Both of those processes have a lot of room for error (kind of like going to the DMV- there's always one more thing you need to have brought with you, like, your dog's mother's maiden name and her birth certificate) so to get them both done without any glitches was AWESOME! And, the people who helped us today were friendly. And helpful. And accomodating to our 3 small people.

Please keep praying for Godspeed in our paperwork process. And please be praying specifically that we find an AWESOME home study person.

Thanks folks!

XO
Joce

Hope

We got to talk to Anastasija this weekend. On Saturday morning I called her foster mom:
Me: "Sveiki! Tas ir Jocelyn...Anastasija America mommy."
Her foster mom: "Anastasija? Ya? Skype? Ya? Skype, skype." -click-

A few minutes later, we got a skype call from Anastasija. She looks well- I think she is growing. She asked us to please come for her soon- so please pray for speedy processes. Joe and I have a lot of paperwork and documents to fill out and obtain. So, pray for speed, Godspeed!

And here is part of my scripture reading for today:

Hebrews 11

The Heavenly Hope


13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises (Christ), but
having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed
that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such
things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had
called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had
opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly
country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has
prepared a city for them.

I love the verse "for those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland." I want my life to declare plainly that this world is not my home. I am just a stanger, a pilgrim. I do not store up treasures here- but in that land that is further up, further in.

XO

Prayer points:

1. Home study. We would love to have a Christian home study person who will be a source of encouragement and wisdom.

2. Communication with Anastasija. We will be calling there tomorrow (Saturday) morning. This could be hard- we don't speak Latvian and her foster mom doesn't speak English.

3. Patience and perseverence.

What a privilege

Hebrews 11:19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.



Sometimes I think we take our ability to approach and pray to the Almighty Creator of the Universe too lightly. It was bought at a great price. And it is no joke that our hearts and bodies have been washed with pure water and that we are invited to draw near without fear of being incincerated.

That perspective tends to keep my prayers less whiny and trivial and more God- and eternity-focused.



 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. Amen.

Prayer request

I would like to ask you to pray for Anastasija.
We have not heard from her in over a week. I have attempted to set up a few Skype dates, but she and her foster parents have not responded and have not logged into Skype.

Please pray that she would be encouraged, and that she is well.
Please pray that whatever is keeping her from logging into Skype would be resolved and that we would be able to talk ASAP.
Please pray for her however the Holy Spirit leads you.

Thanks for your prayers.

XO
Joce

Be Faithful

Hebrews 3:12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, 15 while it is said:
“Today, if you will hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”


Failure of the Wilderness Wanderers


16 For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? 17 Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.


The Promise of Rest


Hebrews 4:1 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them,[a] not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. 3 For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said:
“So I swore in My wrath,
‘They shall not enter My rest,’”
although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; [c] 5 and again in this place: “They shall not enter My rest.”
6 Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, 7 again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said:
“Today, if you will hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts.”
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. 10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.
The Word Discovers Our Condition


11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.


Our Compassionate High Priest


14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.


So, I heard this inspiring sermon this week about obeying God and trusting Him in the wilderness, and His mighty provision based on the story of the wilderness wanderers from Number 9- The Cloud and the Fire.
It was about their perfect obedience to follow the cloud and fire of God.

BUT THEN. Today I read in Hebrews about the Failure of the Wilderness Wanderers. That they hardened their hearts. And stopped obeying God. Of all things, they refused to enter the promised land. After all that.

So, now, in the course of a few days, I have been encouraged and WARNED. For the word they heard did not profit them because it was not mixed with faith. Lord! Let my hearing be mixed with faith that I might OBEY. Today, let me hear your voice, and do not let me harden my heart.

Now, I am glad for the next two sections in Hebrews as well- "The Word Discovers Our Condition" and "Our Compassionate High Priest." First, let the word of God discern our thoughts and the intents of our heart.
Then let us confess to our High Priest all our failures, "coming boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

With the word of God and Jesus as my High Priest, I have hope that I can Be Faithful.

You may be wondering why I would bother to blog about my personal devotions. Well, it's because of Hebrews 3:13 "But exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."

So, consider yourself exhorted! :) Do not harden your heart. Do not ignore God's leading- that is called rebellion and leads to death. Instead, let your hearing of God's word be mixed with faith and GO! DO! Be God's light in this dark world.

Love.