Pray about it

"Me First. Me First! I love to hear his name! From Timbuktu to Calamalazoo he rules a vast domain."

James 3:  "¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. ¹⁵ This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. ¹⁸ Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."

Those are some great verses. The fruit of righteousness sown in peace is a lovely thought. And I, by the grace of God, am sometimes able to plant such seeds. It's hard, but not too hard, to plant seeds of righteousness in peace when the situation is isolated, or when the discord in your life comes from people who don't claim to love you, or claim to love Jesus, either.  But sometimes, there are situations that involve just those kinds of people. People who say they love Jesus and they love you. I have been struggling with a situation like this for a few years. It's a situation where I feel walked on and generally disregarded. It's a situation that makes me feel like "If I don't advocate for myself, no one else will." After just so many times of peaceably and gently yielding, I started to wonder, "When is this person going to yield to me? Doesn't the Bible tell this person to maybe take turns with all this selfless yielding stuff?"

Sad to say, but I found out last night that while I might have started out with wisdom from above,  somewhere in there, wisdom from this earth slipped in, quietly and convincingly. My complaints were valid- according to the wisdom of this world. I was RIGHT- if you look at it through the numero-uno, get-mine goggles of this world. I had legitimate, good reasons about why it was time for me to put my foot down and say- "Hey, it's your turn to think of me and mine, k?"And a whiny little voice started a whole-crowd chant, "What about me? What about me? What about ME?" I want to make it clear here that being right did not give me a get out of jail free card. I still had to get right with this other person and with God. I share this because, if your 'rightness' is holding you back from peacably yielding in any situation in your life, maybe you can get to the 'full of mercy and good fruits' part faster than I did.

Even though I felt justified in my 'rightness' I knew that there was a problem with my thinking somewhere. I would think to myself, "I am not putting this other person's interests before my own." But the thought kept creeping back, "If I don't advocate for myself, WHO WILL? I'll be kowtowing in this situation till one of us dies. Great." I finally wised up and stopped asking this question rhetorically and started directing it to God.

O, praise Jesus, my prayer was answered last night. Wouldn't you know, the answer was right in the Bible. Let's just move right on to the 4th chapter of James, shall we? "What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? ² You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it."

I don't have what I want because I don't ask God for it. I don't need to fight for it, because God wants to give it me, if only I will ask. Because God is FOR me, isn't He? God gives me good gifts, doesn't He? And He has a good plan about this situation, too. GOD is thinking of me. GOD is advocating for me. So I can chill. I can cling to the wisdom that if from above: Pure. Peace loving. Gentle at all times. Willing to yield to others. Full of mercy and good deeds. Sincere.

 It's Spring! On Sunday, I planted a bunch of seeds - kohlrabi, peppers, onions, lettuce. With some sunshine and water, and by the grace of God, they will bear fruit this summer. On Monday, I planted seeds of peace, and by the grace of God, they will produce a harvest of righteousness! Cool! Bring on the gardening. 

 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

A prayer for morning

 

Give us this day a heart that is pure in your sight, O Lord, so we might look upon you.

O God and Father of love and peace, grant us your eternal peace and grace so we may at all times prove ourselves peace-loving people and avoid all evil discord and strife.

May we endure with a meek spirit and calm heart any hardship we encounter on this earth, be it a cross or tribulations, disgrace, or merely misfortune.

Since you are our God and Creator, O Lord, reconcile our life and walk with your holy and divine will, for all our works and deeds are in your hands.

We commend ourselves and our families, body and soul, into your care, Lord.

Govern and promote our work, O God, according to your will.

Amen. 

 -Die Ernsthafte Christenpflicht, 1708

 

Amish Prayers

Arwyn Elisabeth

Sweet baby

What.

I love squash!

I never sit down in my high chair



Because I'm cute.

So I do whatever I want

See? really cute

I'm SO BIG!

It's my birthday

I love blueberry oatmeal for breakfast on my birthday

Everybody loves blueberry oatmeal on my birthday

How old is Arwyn?

How Old?

I know I look good in blueberries

Baking some birthday cupcakes



I'm ONE!



Happiness



See? baking.



It's yummy!

Little Rosebud



Sweet tiny one

World Traveler

Farm girl with a Sweet Peach

We are the rescued

1 Peter 1:
³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵ who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Amen!

XO
Joce

Thai Red Curry Paste

1 T onion powder
1 drop lemon essential oil
1/2 t cayenne pepper
1 t paprika
2 T garlic powder
1 T ginger
2 t coriander
1 t white pepper
2 T soy sauce
1 T lime juice
1 t sugar
1/2 t cinnamon
2 T curry powder

I made this to go in my Roasted Pumpkin-Coconut-Thai Soup. More on that later.

The journey home

Amsterdam Airport

Plane ride home- feeling kinda tired

The Royal Queens of the Airport

Oh happy day- sisters!

 

My favorite picture by far. What wonderful feeling to have these two girls on my lap as we rode home from Buffalo.

 

 

XO

 

 

Dairy Free Golden Waffles

Wow, since starting this dairy free journey about 10 months ago, I have found and developed some truly delicious recipes. Here's the latest:

Dairy Free Golden Waffles
Sift together:
2 1/2 C flour
1 C corn meal
2 t baking powder
1 t baking soda
4 T sugar

Mix together then add to dry:
3 3/4 C coconut milk
w/ 1/4 C lemon juice
4 eggs
1/2 C olive oil
1/2 C vegetable oil
2 t vanilla

Cook till golden brown. (I cook mine in my waffle maker for four minutes.)

ENJOY!

XO
Joce

To Blog?

I have NOT been keeping you all in the loop on how things are going around here. Please forgive me!
There are a few reasons. One is that I am pretty ridiculously busy. Not a lot of blogging time going on around here.
Another is that I am just not sure what to say. I don't want to write anything that will embarass my kids who are now getting old enough to care what I talk about on the blog.
And I don't know how to write without being completely honest. I am not good at filtering. I don't want to candy coat anything, but I don't want to write stuff that will make Ana and Brilyn uncomfortable, or even hurt their hearts when they get old and maybe look back at what I wrote about this time.

So here is the gist of the situation. Things are amazingly wonderfully miraculously good around here. God is our provider and sustainer. Our healer.

It is also hard. Painfully, stressfully, nerve-wrackingly hard. There are so many transitions going on at one time that all of our heads are spinning.

But, like I started by saying- it's wonderful.

So. Keep praying for us. Your prayers are absolutely necessary. And appreciated.

XO

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Quick Bread

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Quick Bread

 

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup chopped peanuts
• 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 & 1/2 cups coconut milk w/ 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 large eggs
• 1/4 cup mild flavored olive oil
• 1/3 C peanut butter

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease two 7″x 3″ loaf pans with lard.

In a large bowl, mix flour, oats, both sugars, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Stir in peanuts and chocolate chips.

In a separate bowl, beat coconut milk, vanilla, eggs, olive oil, and peanut butter. Stir into dry ingredients just until combined. Batter will be lumpy.

Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Now's the Time to Break these Chains!

This is a sticky post. Please scroll down to see more recent posts.

Hello! Lots of folks have been asking about how they can help financially.  Here is the information you need to donate:

To donate online: https://www.networkforgood.org/donation/ExpressDonation.aspx?ORGID2=581703392 Please be sure to fill in the Designation box with our information- "Rebisz family Latvia adoption."

To donate by check:
Payable to:
An Open Door Charitable Fund
P.O. Box 4
Thomasville, GA 31799-1795
Memo line: "Rebisz family Latvia adoption"

To donate by phone with a credit card:
1-229-228-6339
Don't forget to mention "Rebisz family Latvia adoption."
Psalm 68:5
Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—
this is God, whose dwelling is holy.
⁶ God places the lonely in families;
he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.

Proverbs 19:17

If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord—
and he will repay you!

God has already started to move in people's hearts to help us raise the money to bring Anastasija home! Thank God for His providing hand, and thank you to those who are moved to help this way!

Thank you Brilyn- age 7! (Jam fundraiser- $308.00 as of August 26th)
Thank you Gracie and Annie- ages 7 and 5!
Thank you Kylie- age 7!
Thank you Adam and Nicole!
Thank you Russ and Erin!
Thank you Rene and Tim!
Thank you Grampy Sim!
Thank you anonymous (through church) $1,000.00 donor!
Thank you Cowherds!
Thank you Emma Long!
Thank you Casey Engle!
Thank you Caccamise family!
Thank you anonymous (through the website)!
Thank you MOPS Change for Change!
Thank you Nancy Szymanski!
Thank you Sue Weaver!
Thank you Larry and Andrea!
Thank you VonBergens!
Thank you Bergen First Presbyterian congregation!
Thank you GOOD MORNING GIRLS!
Thank you Joneses!
Thank you Eric Gravelle!
Thank you LeRoy Farmer's Market vendors!
Thank you Erion Family!
Thank you Nate Moore!
Thank you Carol Maggofin!
Thank you Tom and Anne Frew!
Thank you Ava's Birthday Friends!
Thank you Grandma and Poppa Rebisz!
Thank you MaryKay Lipstick (Hanna)!
Thank you Ransom Family!
Thank you Waldruffs!
Thank you Merville and Martha!
Thank you Chamberlains!
Thank you Shaun and Carol!
Thank you Joanne!
Thank you Adriane!
Thank you Pengelly's!
Thank you Sundi!
Thank you Bergen First Presbyterian Church (again!)!
Thank you Yoders!
Thank you Smiths!
Thank you MOPS!
Thank you Northgate!
Thank you John Kennedy School!
Thank you Doc and Sue!
Thank you Fern!
Thank you Clarks!
Thank you Jackson School!
Thank you Batavia Middle School!
Thank you Gruendike Family!
Thank you Fuests!
Thank you Plattes!
Thank you E.T.Joneses!
Thank you Kuipers!
Thank you Clint and Beth!
Thank you Slocum-Wiskups!
Thank you Varlands!
Thank you Bergen First Presbyterian Church (again)!
Thank you Shaws!
Thank you Sass family!
Thank you Bergen First Presbyterian Church (again!)

Thank you Rebisz Family Adoption Fundraiser Friends!

 

If you have donated to help our family adopt Anastasija and do not see your name listed here, please contact me to make sure we received the donation.

Estimated need: $30,000.00

Amount given so far: $31,315.00

Updated 1-17-13

Just to be clear about winter activities

This is a hand sleigh:

This is a sleigh riding party (what I like to do for my birthday):

 

This is a sled:

This is a sled-riding party (what my sister likes to do for her birthday):

 

This is a sleigh:

 

This is a sleighing party (where you can sing a sleighing song, like Jingle Bells): 



 

 

So, when I say 'sleigh riding' I don't mean horses. And when you say sled-riding, you probably don't mean high-powered engines. It's okay, we're just different.

 

XO

Life around here...

Mitford

I love Mitford. In my mind, it's the village of LeRoy, with an even lovelier main street.

Anyway, the main character is an Episcopal priest- Father Tim (I picture Saint Marks church in LeRoy, LOL). I love him! Seriously, I have to remind myself that the characters in the books are not real, and I don't need to pray for them during their struggles. LOL. You think that's a joke. It's not. I'm like, "Whoops! Sorry God, now I'll pray for real people."

I just finished the last book in the series, Out to Caanan. In it, I read about a prayer service where the congregation prayed the Prayer of Confession from the Common Book of Prayer. The author gave glimpses into how the prayer was ministering to a number of characters in the book, how it drew them closer to God, from whatever their starting point. And, I started to pray it along with them (I KNOW THEY ARE NOT REAL) and was reminded of the power of intentional confession. The United Methodist church I attended when very small had a time of silent confession every week. I remember actually calling to mind some specific sins and asking to be forgiven. Most churches do not bother with that anymore. I think it is a mistake. Let us confess our sins!

Here's the prayer from the book:

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent, for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

Episcopal Book of Common Prayer

 

I think I am going to memorize this. Sometimes it's hard to concentrate and remember every sin, but this just about covers it, and helps me call to mind the specific ways I have not loved God with my whole heart, and how I have not loved my neighbor as myself.

 

Join me?

 

XO

Strength for today...

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

“A man must completely despair of himself in order to become fit to obtain the grace of Christ.” -Martin Luther (1483-1546)

If I believe in Christmas, I can believe that God has a good plan for today.
If I believe that God could take the mess of human sin- spiritual death and darkness, and cure it with the birth of a precious baby, I can cling to the idea that He can take my mess and failure and make something beautiful.

I can believe that God has a good plan, even when my troubles are my own fault. I can pray with David, “And now, Lord, what do I wait for?
My hope is in You.
⁸ Deliver me from all my transgressions;
Do not make me the reproach of the foolish."
Psalm 39


God knows the frailty of my frame.

Psalm 103
Let all that I am praise the Lord;
with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
² Let all that I am praise the Lord;
may I never forget the good things he does for me.
³ He forgives all my sins
and heals all my diseases.
⁴ He redeems me from death
and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
⁵ He fills my life with good things.
My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!

⁶ The Lord gives righteousness
and justice to all who are treated unfairly.

⁷ He revealed his character to Moses
and his deeds to the people of Israel.
⁸ The Lord is compassionate and merciful,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
⁹ He will not constantly accuse us,
nor remain angry forever.
¹⁰ He does not punish us for all our sins;
he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
¹¹ For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
¹² He has removed our sins as far from us
as the east is from the west.
¹³ The Lord is like a father to his children,
tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
¹⁴ For he knows how weak we are;
he remembers we are only dust.
¹⁵ Our days on earth are like grass;
like wildflowers, we bloom and die.
¹⁶ The wind blows, and we are gone—
as though we had never been here.
¹⁷ But the love of the Lord remains forever
with those who fear him.
His salvation extends to the children’s children
¹⁸ of those who are faithful to his covenant,
of those who obey his commandments!

¹⁹ The Lord has made the heavens his throne;
from there he rules over everything.

²⁰ Praise the Lord, you angels,
you mighty ones who carry out his plans,
listening for each of his commands.
²¹ Yes, praise the Lord, you armies of angels
who serve him and do his will!
²² Praise the Lord, everything he has created,
everything in all his kingdom.

Let all that I am praise the Lord.

 

God has a good plan!

 

XO

 

 

 

Riga city

Last night in Daugavpils!

Joe finished his 1,000 piece puzzle

I made soup

 

Angry babushkas out for a walk

 

Hotel Guttenbergs, Old Riga

 

Bathroom, complete w/bidet

Bedroom

Random Ceiling Pot

Ana's bed and office area

Door to our room

View upon entering room

Wall art

View from window that open right into street-

I stuck my hand out this window to see if it was raining.

 

A walk in Riga

 

I actually took this picture myself. I am proud.

"House of the Blackheads"

Street in Riga

In Latvia, in an Irish Pub. LOL

Church Tower

Little Stone Duckies

Sparkly thing

Stone Dragon

 

Yeah, I took this pic. I can't help posting it twice. LOL.

 

Tomorrow, it's back to the theme song, "Up, up and away we go! Into the great beyond. Wherever we go and whatever we do, we're trusting God all along. We will fly, we will soar! Nothing is impossible. We will rise through the storm, trusting God and leaving our fears behind. We will fly!"

 

Pray for our 20 hours of travel!

XO