Increase our Faith: God has a plan for you

It has recently been made clear to me all over again that God is at work among His people. As Mr. Beaver might say, "Aslan is on the move." You can feel it in the warming wind. See it in the greening wood.

Imagine it being always winter and never Christmas.

Well, that is not too hard to imagine for some folks. For example- orphans in Ukrainian orphanages. They can imagine always winter never Christmas. Or, North American Christians...our hearts are heavy and stiff with the cold of spiritual stagnation...always winter never Christmas.

Even Christmas isn't really Christmas in our souls. Every year we long for more...we try to create magical holiday things to fill our longing. But all we really end up doing is spending a lot of money and energy without the true joy of Christmas dawning in our souls. We end up with lots of clean up and garbage and maybe some extra fat from all the treats and goodies. But in the end it was winter and never Christmas.

But like I said, I have seen that Jesus is on the move. That means that we can expect to have Christmas this winter! We can expect to hear the sleigh bells of Father Christmas in our hearts. We can anticipate the joy of the Gift we will receive. I can assure you it will be just what you've always wanted, always needed. It will be just what you need to get you through this adventure of your life.

But, like the children in Narnia, we have to trust the message that Christ is really on the move. We have to obey Him and take some risks in order to find Him. We have to follow a talking beaver we just met (hearing the Holy Spirit and following His direction can be a lot like following a talking beaver- you keep wondering if this is really real and if it is wise to take advice from such a person). We must resolve to not be distracted by luxuries and lulled to indifference and ultimately disobedience.

Our family heard from the Holy Spirit in October 2011.  I clearly heard that Christ was coming this Christmas if we would open our hearts and home to an orphan from Latvia. We were about as confident as the Pevensie's, we truly felt like children in a strange land following a talking beaver. But the reward was amazing. Christ came at Christmas! Christmas morning dawned in our hearts that winter. Now we know what it's like and we can't get enough of following the Holy Spirit any direction He takes us, because whenever we do, we see Christ. The real Christ, bringing spring to a winter landscape. Thawing our hearts of stone and giving us hearts of flesh.

And then, over the last few years, I have watched the Holy Spirit speak clearly to people who have not heard so clearly up to this point. People who are called by His name who were nonetheless stuck in winter with no Christmas. And it all comes from hosting orphans. I have seen God do BIG THINGS with folks as soon as they start to follow the iffy directions of the Holy Spirit. Did I really hear that? Was it really from God? Is this really the best way to spend my hard earned money? Is this really good stewardship? Is this going to harm my family? Those doubts and more plague every one of us who have followed the lead of the Holy Spirit. But the reward is Christmas in your soul. That lasts all year, even longer!

That's why I want to write this post. I want to somehow let you know that YOUR SOUL stands to gain or lose a lot, based on your willingness to listen for and follow the call of Christ in your life. And I just have so many AMAZING God moments and Jesus magic to share that all revolve around hosting orphans. Obviously, there are lots of ways to hear and follow God's Big Plan for your life, but hosting is way that I have seen with my own eyes the way God works in the hearts of those who say yes.

I've got names and numbers of lots of folks who have said yes to hosting and now know Jesus as well as if they had met Him in the woods and walked miles by His side.

I will tell you those stories, or let them tell you through guest posts so that you can get the idea.
If your heart longs for Christmas, truly joy-filled and lasting, listen closely to their stories and listen carefully for the Holy Spirit to guide you into a magical land....where Christmas comes and warms the heart like springtime.

The Worthington Family! October 10, 2014: Increase our Faith: Hosting O

 

The Synborski Family!October 13, 2014: Increase our Faith: Hosting Reno

The Dawson Family! October 15, 2014: Increase our Faith: Hosting Boys

The Burkhardt Family! October 21, 2014: Increase our Faith: Hosting Zi


(picture soon)
The Riedl Family! October 23, 2014: Increase our Faith: Hosting? Who?

Jennie Allen sums it up in three lines:

"The only exercise that works 100 percent of the time to draw one close to the real God is risk...
...To risk is to willingly place your life in the hand of an unseen God and an unknown future, then to watch him come through. He starts to get real when you live like that.” -Jennie Allen, Anything

That's what hosting an orphan does- it willingly places your life in God's hand.

It's like when I was trying to describe to some folks about getting more Holy Spirit in your life. Well, this is a loose analogy, so don't analyze it too closely, but your life is like a car. And you have a choice. You can let it sit in the driveway, or you can start driving down the road. The Holy Spirit is the gas. If you just have your car sit in the driveway, God will give you enough gas for that. And you'll look at the gas gauge and say, "well, I can't go anywhere anyway, I hardly have enough gas to make it out of the driveway." But, if you are willing to maybe drive around the block, you find that there is always enough gas to get you where you are supposed to go.

Hosting an orphan is a drive around the block. It shows you how God supplies all your needs. It shows you how real the Holy Spirit is, how real God is. Like what Jennie Allen said in three lines.

XO

#'s 10 and 12 from left are kiddos who changed my life...and whose lives have been changed. Talk about setting the lonely in families...Yeah. Hard to be lonely with Joe's family. :)

Forever family is a gift only God can give.

Increase our Faith: Hosting? Who?

Today's post is from Kara over at Just Simply Live. This story is far from over and has changed even from when this written. I will request that Juliane and Kara keep writing to keep us updated on their journey with hearing God and hosting. Let's just say, the road is rocky and therefore I'm pretty excited to see what God is up to.
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I am not a patient person...

NOT.AT.ALL!

Psalms 37:7 says, "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him (Jesus)".

Apparently God wanted to teach me a little lesson in patience and grow my faith muscles.  All while being still.  WOW....

I have this thing called, "bleeding heart syndrome".   I'm sure others suffer from this as well but basically I HATE any injustice.  My soul bleeds for children particularly that don't feel or know what love is due to life circumstances.  My heart cries out for orphans.  My mind is blown away by the children who are sold into slavery right in front of our faces.  Even as I write this, I feel that little blazing fire within me getting fueled to run out and stop it.  To bring EACH AND EVERY orphan into my home.  To love EACH AND EVERY child who is hurting.  To END child slavery as a whole. 

That being said, I married a practical man. A man who first of all loves Jesus but knows that it is just not practical to have 1,000,000 children living in our home.  Lets say he "balances" me.  He doesn't like any of the above situations either but knows that God has given me a mission right now to love and disciple the four children he gave to me.

Then came along a friend with a passion for orphans in other countries.  New Horizons for Children is an organization that places children from overseas orphanages into homes during the Christmas and summer seasons.  During these times, the orphanages "shut down" and the kids are left to celebrate (or not) Christmas on their own.  Like...NO ONE is loving them?   NO ONE buys them presents?  NO ONE cooks a yummy meal for them?  UMMMMMMM NO!

So this lovely friend decided she should host.  Then another lovely friend decided to host.  Then another.  So of course I should host.  Right?  Aren't we called to take care of orphans?  Isn't this a huge example of injustice?  But Zach...ummmmm not sure how he would like that idea.  Well, I guess I should pray.

Then one day I was completely blindsided.  I sat down on my computer to check facebook and what would you know.  There she was.  MY GIRL!  Let me say I was not thinking of hosting at all this holiday season and I knew that Zach wouldn't be on bored with it but I felt and overwhelming pull towards this girl.  I immediately sat down with God and prayed!

 An excerpt from my journal that day:

10/1/14

There are so many kids wihtout moms and dads.  My heart grieves for them.  What do I do with this grief?  I want to host and orphan ("o") this Christmas but I'm not sure it's your will.  You command us to care for the orphans and widows.  Please, PLEASE change Zach's heart.  Help him let this child into our home.  Please Lord.  "O" needs you!

She consumed me for the next 24 hours.  My heart bled like it never had bled for a girl I had never met.  I could see her sitting in my living room.  I could smell her sweet head.  I could imagine snuggling with her, reading a book.  I WAS SURE she was suppose to be here.  God laid this girl on my heart.  He told me to pray for her.  Why shouldn't she be here?

Zach and I talked about it and prayed more than ever about "O".  My heart didn't waver at all.  Zach's didn't either.  He wasn't hearing what I was hearing.  He was hearing, "no, she isn't for us.".  WHAT?????  I begged and pleaded with God.  My core group of friends were all praying that Zach's heart would be changed.  I called NHFC and found out more information about "O".  There was no way she wasn't meant to be here!

The next few days my journal opened with this:

10/2/14

I'm so confused Lord.  Which way are you leading me?  

10/3/14

I am worn and confused Lord.  I was so sure I heard your voice and went out on a limb only to get burned.  My heart breaks.  

I cried out to God.  He answered me with these verses.  "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him".  1 Corinthians 2:9.  "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14.

As I sat in my living room pondering these verses, I felt I NEEDED to talk with my friend Juliane about the whole thing.  Why wasn't Zach hearing what I was hearing?  Why was God saying, "Be Still" when this was obviously not a time to wait?  I called her, heartsick over "O".  As I retold the whole story she told me to go outside, take a deep breath and know that I obeyed God.  He was going to do all the work, I just need to "chill out" and relax.  What happened next was what one of my friends would call a #MJM (Magical Jesus Moment)...

I said "O's" name...

Immediately a light bulb went on in Juliane's head.  "She is for me". 

Wait...what??

Juliane went on to describe a vivid dream she had 2 years ago about a girl named, "O" who lived in an Eastern European country.  She asked me to send her the picture.  I did and the rest is history.  

God WAS talking to me.  I WAS listening. The little girl who my heart grieved for WAS going to come here.  I WAS going to see her sitting on my couch.  I WAS going to smell her sweet head.  Not sure about the snuggling part but its possible.  My husband WAS hearing God saying she wasn't for us.  I WASN'T going crazy.  

Juliane immediately talked with her husband and they went forward.  "O" will be here this Christmas.  

My lesson from this was that I am not in control.  God may put things on my heart but it's not up to me to decided what to do with them and when they should happen.  As Juliane said, "Take a deep breath and know you obeyed God"!   I look forward to hearing God more as I learn to fine tune my hearing.  

Patience...Patience....Patience.  

I'm excited to see what God has in store for us ;)

PS. You can read all about the Worthington's journal to get "O" home here!

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Anne with an E and ice cream

I guess if I look back at my life, God was shaping me for orphan advocacy from way back. And let me tell you, Anne with an E is my girl. And Lucy Maude is my hero. And somewhere over the years I've become more like Marilla (about whom Joe always remarks, "man is she your mom") than I ever intended, but I digress. (I'm still a lot like, Anne, too. Don't worry, my scope for imagination keeps me close to Anne.)

You see that pic? It was shared on facebook by the (sorry I'm a nerd) Anne of Green Gables fan thingy. Not by New Horizons or P143. And yet, what could more accurately portray the truth about caring for an orphan? I know they are fictional characters, but come along for the ride, won't you?

I doubt Marilla and Matthew considered themselves a good choice to care for a child. Brother and sister, old, busy, introverts, etc. They didn't even willingly choose to have Anne. They were looking for a big boy who they could feed and care for and teach him to help on the farm. But they got Anne. Anne who had never had ice cream. Those of you who know me well are probably laughing a little; my love of ice cream is epic. But that's not the part that hit me hardest. It's that Marilla never would have dreamed that Anne hadn't had ice cream before. And the Sunday School picnic they are about to attend? No one there would realize that someone in their midst was having ice cream for the first time. Marilla and all those good people of Avonlea never realizing that what they had was AMAZING. SPECIAL. BLESSED. And EXCLUSIVE. To them it was normal life, and pretty bland at that, but to Anne it was a dream come true.

I could go on and on here. Seriously, Anne, ice cream, and hosting. Anne's not adopted at this point in the story. She was just 'on trial' at Green Gables. Marilla began to see how real Anne was, and full of hope, and full of life. She came to see that Anne was not just another sad case of lost humanity with no chance for a full life of opportunity. Anne was a real, unique, funny, silly, creative, imaginative, distractible child in need of raising. And she began to see that she, Marilla, was the difference. She stood in the gap of Anne remaining "a perfect heathen" or becoming Anne the friend, Anne the devoted daughter, Anne the wife of a good doctor, Anne the mother of 6 children, Anne the light of all who knew her.

I like this story for orphan care because Marilla and Matthew didn't get a vision from God that they should go 'rescue the poor orphans.' They didn't want Anne. She just showed up by 'mistake.' They weren't qualified for the job. Old maid, old bachelor. No experience. No desire. And yet when God sent them a child, and they saw the need, and they saw the person, and they said 'yes.'

Every single orphan has the need of love and family. Every single orphan is a person.

Marilla saw it. And she said yes. Will you see it? And will you give that kid some ice cream?

An accidental Matthew Bible study on Hospitality and Orphan Hosting

Today I saw a picture post on facebook by P143 that stirred my heart.
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There's no place like home... but for over 100 unchosen orphans on our photolisting, there is no such place. You can change that! HOST an orphan in your home this summer. ADVOCATE by sharing our post. SUPPORT with a donation for a child of your choosing. To see all the orphans available for summer hosting, complete our pre-registration form for the link! www.projectonefortythree.org/host/photo-listing-registration/

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(An accidental Matthew Bible study on Hospitality and Orphan Hosting)

Hospitality

A few years ago I read a great book; Open Heart, Open Home by Karen Mains.

I blogged about it back then, I'm pretty sure...let me check....nope. Can't find it. Well, it's been too long for me to be able to recap it accurately, so I'll just say, it changed me. For the good. It opened my eyes to the fact that my home is not mine. It's God's. I'm the steward and there will be a day when I stand before the Owner and give account for how I invested what has been entrusted to me. I began to think of the great blessing it is to have a home. For all it's imperfections, it is absolutely a blessing beyond compare. And yet, sadly, the norm is to hoard it. Keep it clean, keep it warm, decorate it, bake cookies, serve supper, ALL FOR ME AND MINE.

To the faraway hungry-for-love orphan, elderly person, poor person, "NO SOUP FOR YOU!"

The excuses are innumerable:

"My table is too small" (Mine is, too. We have seven people and 4 chairs and1  bench, which we fill with just us.)

 "My house is not necessarily clean." (Yeah, me too.)

 "My family doesn't always shine with love." (You mean like how Cade just tried to smother Jessup with couch pillows?)

"People might not like my food." (Honestly, serve pizza if you're really actually a bad cook. Or Oreos.)

"We don't have enough bedrooms." (We have three bedrooms; parents', boys', and girls'. And when we have a whole other family stay with us? We cut down to a kids' and a kids'/parents' and the other family can have a room to themselves. "It's just like Little House on the Prairie, isn't this fun?")

I give these examples with their short responses simply to illustrate that those thoughts are just excuses that can be solved...or ignored completely (and they go away). My solutions might not work for you, but that's not the point. I just wanted to share them to show that a willing heart finds a way.

And let's be straight- I am not in need of any more kids in my house. I don't need extras at meals. We are quite full. I'm often heard to say, "It's always a party with the Rebisz's." But I know that my home is my greatest blessing. It is invaluable to me, and an unattainable, heart-wrenching dream for the lonely.

Home and family- I have it, they need it, so I offer it. And Christ blesses it.

Matthew 25

³⁴ Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: ³⁵ for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; ³⁶ I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? ³⁸ When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? ³⁹ Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ ⁴⁰ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

Orphan Hosting

So back to the beginning. There are over 100 kiddos from P143 who have not been hosted yet.

And it makes my heart feel, what, sad? Disappointed? Frustrated? Discouraged? I don't know exactly, but heavy for sure. Heavy that there are ANY kids left at P143 or New Horizons. We should be leaping at the chance to engage our entire family in world missions so easily. There should seriously be a stampede to view the photolistings and the chance to choose a child to bring to our home. We should be honored and joyful and grateful that there such a simple and convenient way to share Christ with those who need Him most. Instead my brothers and sisters in Christ say, "No," over and over and over a hundred times and more.What does that say about our hearts? Stone or flesh?

Ezekiel 11

¹⁹ Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, ²⁰ that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God.

What a rich promise! What a happy thought! Let's ask anew for this heart of flesh. He'll be our God, and we'll be His people and walk in His statues. What are those statutes?  You're not the first one to ask, actually.

Matthew 19

Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler

¹⁶ Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
¹⁷ So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
¹⁸ He said to Him, “Which ones?”
Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ¹⁹ ‘Honor your father and your mother, and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
²⁰ The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”
²¹ Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
²² But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.


Most of us have heard this story lots of times. What does it mean for us? On the most basic level it means that we must loosen our hold on our stuff and use our possessions as God would have us use them. I think it's easy to figure it out how to do that, but we don't always want it to be so clear, so we say it's hard. I mean, right in verse 21 Christ says use your stuff for poor people. So there's one way to use your stuff. And just before, He says “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”  So there's kids,  another group we can be sure is important to God. And James reminds us that pure and undefiled religion is to care for orphans and widows. So there's orphans and widows. We can use our stuff for them, then, without having to worry about whether its God's will or not. We can just go ahead and use our stuff for them and follow Jesus.

So now what? Well, I'm pretty sure you're thinking, "Oh, yes. That's all true, but it's just not the time for us right now." Well, I was 7 months pregnant when we hosted Anastasija. And my house was a mess. And we live on one income. And my kids were naughty. And I yell at them sometimes. My family is so far from perfect. The only thing we've got going for us is trying to follow Jesus and obey His commands. Seriously, we are nothing great over here.

 And no family is perfect and no time is perfect, and I'm going with a cliché here:

It's not about you.

Christ laid it out in no uncertain terms:
Matthew 10:

³⁷ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. ³⁸ And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. ³⁹ He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

A Cup of Cold Water

⁴⁰ “He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. ⁴¹ He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. ⁴² And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.”

Ask yourself the hard question:
Do you love your home-life just the way it is more than you love your neighbor the orphan? (Or lonely neighbor, or foster kid down the street- there are lots of people to love, I just happen to be thinking about orphans.)

God is the Father to the fatherless. The Help of the Helpless. And we are His hands, His feet, His heart here on Earth. If we don't spread the love, the world stays loveless. If we don't spread the hope, the orphan stays hopeless. If we don't shine the light, we remain in darkness.

I don't know what else to say. How can I get you to break free of the doubts and fears that hold you back from offering what you have to those who need it? What lonely child would not want to be in your home this summer? Honestly, picture your normal life and compare it to the normal life a child in an orphanage and tell me that these children with hopes and dreams and real little bodies that ache for a hug and someone to tuck them in at night don't need your home this summer. This summer. Not some nebulous some-day-in-the-cloudy-future, but now.
A real child. The child who was interviewed and knows that her face and story are out there and wonders if anyone will choose her. Wondering if she's really as worthless as she thinks? 

Anyway, the answer to the above question is that I can't help you break free of the things that hinder you. Only God can do that. So I'll pray. I'll pray that my desperate plea from the depths of my heart will fall on ears that hear.

Believers Are Salt and Light

Matthew 5
¹³ “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Shine your light. Let it shine. Set it on the table in your dining room and invite someone in out of the dark. You'll be glad you did, and so will they.  


 



Check Yes or No

E0177

This boy has been offered before and watched his friends come to America, but never selected. He had great eye contact during our interview and seemed very friendly. Later taking pictures he was all smiles for pictures and loved taking more photos with his friends. He said he wants to come to America to see EVERYTHING. He has seen pictures from his friends and it is beautiful. He would love to be part of a large family with lots of kids …younger, older, doesn’t matter to him. He would like to work on his soccer and ping-pong skills. He is a very goal oriented young man.

Contact your local coordinator for more information.

 

www.newhorizonsforchildren.orgcontact-us/

 

Don't let him feel unwanted and worthless by not being chosen...again. Hosting is so simple and yet so profound in the life of the child. You have a home right? Open it up.
13 Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters.[a] 2 Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! 3 Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.
Being in foster care or an orphanage doesn't cause pain in his body, but think of the pain in his heart. Feel it as if you were there yourself. Love him as your brother. YOUR BROTHER. I don't know about you, but I would make the room and time needed to let my brother live with me for 5 weeks over the summer. I would never say, "I don't feel called to have my brother live with me this summer." I would just move forward, knowing that I don't need a special word from God to let me know that I am supposed to care for my brother and make room for him in my life.
I sometimes daydream about the possibilities. I think of stories of thousands of Jewish children being hosted by families in safe countries during the time of the Nazis. I think of all the children of refugees in war-torn places right now. I wonder if there is a way to get them into host families until it is safe to go home. But that would require the Church to take the above verse seriously, and I don't see that happen much around here. New Horizons and P143 offer just a few hundred children, it seems like that wouldn't be enough to go around for our whole nation of Jesus followers. But, sadly, that's not the case and this boy didn't get chosen last time. Why? Because someone felt a tug to treat him like their brother- but they said 'No.' And he dealt with the ramifications of their choice. He stayed behind while others spent their Christmas or summer with a family. They heard, "You are wanted. We love you. God loves you." What did he hear?
People. This quick share has turned into a blog post. Because I want this boy to feel God's love this summer. And I want you to feel the power of God at work in your life as you see miracle after miracle in removing every obstacle. God has a plan. He has a plan for these kids with no families. He has had a plan from the beginning of time for the good works He wants you to do.
If you are a follower of Christ, you've got your orders.
18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  19 Go therefore[c] and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.[d]
This is one simple way to get started on your obedience. Will you trust? Will you obey?

Unofficial Guest Blogger

God is amazing. He coordinates our lives so intricately and we never know where our influence on others and on this world begins or ends.

Le Ann probably doesn't know where her burden for opening her heart and her mouth for orphans specifically began or where it will end. But one result is me. My heart for orphans was prepped by God (and L.M. Montgomery) and unlocked by Le Ann's ministry of New Horizons for Children.

I prayed hard this morning about blogging and hosting and lo and behold- this is the first email in my inbox today:
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"Dear Friends and Families of New Horizons for Children,

The clock is ticking quickly. Blink and a child loses hope and so much more.
Please see the link below for the file of Children to Pray For!  Deadlines are quickly approaching! Asian deadline is  MONDAY OCTOBER 21.
Eastern European deadlines begin SUNDAY OCTOBER 27.
My perspective has only gotten stronger, after sitting in an orphanage in China now for well over a week. One has a lot to take in, with the time to take it in, and be thankful. But more, I have realized I have a lot to learn and hear from my Holy Spirit who shouldn't have to put me here to listen! The thoughts that go through my mind on an hourly basis are such that I can't explain many times. The children who rush to me when we walk over to the chow hall to have a meal, just to say "I LOVE YOU!" or just to get a hug open my eyes to see what He would have me to see.  The result for the kids is a smile that never ends and warmth in their heart saying, "I was special to ONE!"
The result for me... well, I get numb at times, but it warms my soul; my life is again, forever changed for the better. It shows me what I have in "things" and "creature comforts" that are meaningless and there are far greater joys in the world besides something we buy in stores. Yes, I complain to those anxiously waiting at home on our return, (mine and our new son, Kevin who lives here as well)..."I am sick of Chinese food three times a day." But, after the adults finished their abundant lunch today, Kevin sneaks in to ask for some rice as he is still hungry. As a mom, I desire to give him all the food that is left before me, but as someone who sees the other 80 little children who have no mom in which to even ask... it kills me inside.
My perspective is something I have to continue to share; the burden is too great.
Last night, I went to visit with the other two Americans who live here and work with the children teaching them about their self-worth and that they have a Father in Heaven who loves them dearly.  They had four of the older boys come to visit their room in the orphanage seeking Ray, their wrestling buddy! The boys were there to wrestle with a "dad figure" and try out an "elastic-exercise-band" that he will demonstrate and share with them. While we all laughed and encouraged them to try their best, it was also sad that none of them could stretch the bands as well as the gentleman who is retiring next week after four years of service in China, and returning to the USA. These teen boys are so weak, under-nourished and have so little muscle mass they couldn't do it.
But, in these servants’ eyes, they have hope for a future. 
Jeremiah 29:11 says: "For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.' "

How can you give them HOPE?
Much of the hope these boys have comes  from families, such as your own, getting ready to start their shopping lists for Christmas or planning a summer vacation. But, instead, a family chose to answer the Call and went on a family mission trip together with one of these children. The map on the wall of this room in the orphanage shows each child's photo that went on one of our hosting programs in 2013. It has a photo of each child and a string attached from the photo to the destination in the USA where he or she has been...and has been loved and shown the care of a Christian family who made a sacrifice. Sacrifice? YES, financial, emotional, physical in some regards. But, these kids all know they mattered to ONE when they see this wall, they have HOPE for a FUTURE.

Are you going to matter? NHFC promotes the starfish as our unofficial mascot, and relates the story of "this one matters" in the legend of a young boy walking on the shore tossing beached starfish back into the water "of life". An older man sees the boy and questions, "How can you hope to make a difference since there are literally millions who you won't be able to save?" The boy replies, "But, I made a difference to THIS ONE."

There are enough orphans in the world, if they stood side by side, they would circle the earth TWICE!
In thinking through this now, This ONE is also referring to each of our host families! This ONE FAMILY answered the Call and hosted an orphan child who now feels loved, has self-worth, knows THEY matter! Best of all, they KNOW THEY MATTER TO OUR FATHER! They are not forgotten, unless you choose to forget and move on.

It takes ONE to SAVE ONE.

Now is the time. Now is the end and now is their hope for ONE--- such as your family. Christmas is the best time of the year to step up... it's the giving season, it is the season of Love and the season of our Father who loved us so much, He gave his ONE son for our life. We now have eternal Life and we know He cares and we matter! It's our turn to pay it forward as Fathers and Mothers and teach our own children-- show them-- the greatest gift of all...
The kids' bags are packed... well, really, there is nothing for them to pack, but in their minds, they are ready to go. But, each one knows they must be considered and chosen by ONE family. 

Is that your family this time?
Psalm 119:105 says:
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." 
Can you believe enough, have the faith of a tiny mustard seed, and take a step onto that path?

Want to take your family on a mission trip for Christmas? For the price of just one person, your whole family 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, you can minister to an orphan from Eastern Europe or Asia around your own Christmas tree. It's a life changing opportunity to share God's love with a child who may never have experienced it before!

Click here to see just a short list of the children to pray for! Please complete the short form at this link to view the photos of available host children.

Asia Photolisting

E. Europe Photolisting

 

Contact your regional coordinator for more information on any of these wonderful children! Click here.

WHAT? You can't host a child over Christmas? Well, there is yet ONE more gift to consider giving!
We have a pressing need right now: if any these available children were to receive a scholarship towards their hosting costs, they have an increase of 80% in being selected for Christmas or a future hosting.  Every hosting season, it can be difficult to provide large sums of money for these scholarships. But we have recently created a program where you don’t need a large amount to help—every little bit will help change these children's  lives.  You can partner with us through our new "Agape Fund": a monthly giving fund that will allow you to give a little bit each month in support of our program. Note your funds are for scholarships for a specific country, scholarships for siblings, or as a general donation. Click here for more information on the new Agape Fund!

MOST OF ALL the Agape fund provides NHFC with donations that can be applied immediately where the need is greatest!  Your partnership in this program is invaluable and will help us serve the children of Eastern Europe, China, and the Philippines even more effectively.

Anyone who signs up to give a monthly amount of $10 or more will receive a special gift!  All donations are tax-deductible.

May God bless you on your journey!

Le Ann Dakake, Director of Orphan Hosting Programs
New Horizons for Children
New Horizons for Children
3950 Cobb Pkwy, Suite 708
Acworth, Georgia 30101"
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Forgotten Christmas

As you know, I love hosting kiddos for Christmas.

I also love giving forever gifts for Christmas.

I am just so convicted about the way we spend our money on trinkets for Christmas.
Seriously, buy a newer game thingy?

 

Or buy a well that provides clean drinking water AND a missionary that tells of the Living Water?

I have been thinking about writing this post for a few weeks, but was not sure what to say, how to say it. And then I was prompted by the Bible, of all things. :)

My verses for today are Luke 20:46-47
⁴⁶ “Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, ⁴⁷ who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”

The scribes devour widows' houses..
My heart is just so moved, and sad. Our gluttony devours the poor. Our overspending, overeating, and overindulging is responsible for the physical and spiritual deaths of so many people. I pray for a wave of repentance, I pray for forgiveness. When I reach heaven and face the accuser- what will I see? Face after face of people for whom I could have provided a drink of clean water and a drink of the Living Water if I had lived a little more simply, but DID NOT?
O Lord, let not my gluttony cause the death of the poor. Let me live poorer and give richer: feeding poor and hungry bodies and souls.



Going into this weekend humbled.

Forgotten Christmas.org

Don't miss this

Now. The time is now.

Click here and read Ann Voskamp about how YOUR time is now.

People. Children.

They are waiting for you to figure it out.
They are dying while you figure it out.
I am praying that you figure it out.

Are you listening?

I would like to take this moment to advocate for orphans. And I would like to prayerfully ask that you please click the following link to New Horizons.  

The world is full of children walking in darkness with no hope; but this is an opportunity to show them love and hope. New Horizons offers an opportunity for families to welcome Christ at Christmas and do foreign mission work without leaving the country.

Please pray for the children listed, children who are wondering if this hosting thing could be true, that God loves them and His people might care enough to bring them into their home for Christmas.

Please pray that God would show you how to help- praying, donating, advocating, hosting. If you feel a tug and have any questions, please contact me!

Hosting Anastasija changed our whole family- we learned more about following Jesus and we grew in our faith more than at any other time in our lives. Our family is not the same. My kids are different, they are others-focused. Joe and I are different- our hearts are softer, our faith is deeper, our eyes are open.

You may think, "I already know Jesus really well and keep His commandments." Let me just say that I thought that too. My thoughts echoed those of the rich young ruler: "And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.”" (Luke 18:21) Our attitude often reflects that of the rich young ruler. We are pretty good. We have done lots of good things and live squeaky clean lives. And Christ's response to our attitude is the same as it was to that young man; “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
Obeying His call to let go of our comforts and care for the poor is as difficult for us as it was for the rich young ruler and tragically, it is highly uncommon.

There is a reason Christ asked the rich young ruler to do the hardest thing. It is because with obedience comes blessing. Obeying His call to care for orphans in a tangible and out-of-our-comfort-zone way, and trusting Him to strengthen and protect and provide changed us in a way we couldn't have imagined. And now I understand that the Holy Spirit is like gas for your car: It really makes a difference in how far and how fast you can go. I also learned that God only gives you as much as you need. Our day-to-day trials and struggles need about a half gallon. But when you step out in faith to do something that is way beyond your own strength and resources, God fills you up! And man- You can feel the difference!
 God is more than we think. He "is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us." (Eph. 3:20) The work of His Holy Spirit is just as awe-inspiring as you imagine it to be when you read the book of Acts. God answers prayer just like Jesus says He does when He tells us to ask, seek, and knock! "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." (Luke 11:9)

Obeying God in faith for something larger than yourself has great rewards. Open your heart and your bank account and your home to the fatherless this year at Christmas, and see how it feels to welcome the Christ child in out of the cold. And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.” (Matthew 10:42) I always like to think that if Mary and Joseph had gone past my house, I would have gone out and welcomed them in and given them food and a good place to sleep and called a midwife, you know? Well, here are children with no family, with no love, and no Christ. They are standing at your door and seeking the warmth of your heart and hands and your hugs and your Christmas cookies and cocoa and Christmas Eve service. What will God have you do for them?
 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. (James 1:27)


New Horizons for Children Christmas Hosting Program


According to the power that works in us,  to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
(Ephesians 3:20-21)

XO

Every blog comment and every link, and every facebook like, every comment, and every share (total of 5 entries per person) enters you to win this book! Be the voice!

"Is the message of Christmas lost in the commercialization and hectic pace? Can we celebrate with intentional purpose? Using devotions and activities, Seeking Christmas gives your family an experience to pass down for generations to come."



Where are you Christmas?

Where are you Christmas? Why can't I find you? Why have you gone away?

I think most of us can hear Faith Hill's voice carrying those phrases, right?

The wonder of Christmas dissipates as we age. We can't quite conjure up the wonderment of our childhood. We enjoy watching our kiddos in their excitement, but even that leaves us feeling a little empty, with part our soul longing for something more.

The presents, the tree, the dinners and parties and cookies- they lose their magic and sometimes even begin to drain us. We try to focus on Christ, but as soon as we close our Christmas devotional, our joy fades and hustle and bustle kick in. It leaves us tired and empty. The mess after the gift-opening frenzy fills us with grief. We always hope for some magic, but all we see are glazed eyes and spoiled children.

And I LOVE Christmas. I LIVE for Christmastime. Christmas music is the all-time-best music. Hope and magic and twinkly things. But after all that, the day after Christmas is gray. The things we wanted and wrote on our lists didn't bring us the joy we thought they would. List-making brings to mind another song,

Do you remember me?
I sat upon your knee
I wrote to you
With childhood fantasies

 

Well, I'm all grown-up now
And still need help somehow
I'm not a child
But my heart still can dream

So here's my lifelong wish
My grown-up Christmas list
Not for myself
But for a world in need

 

As children we believed
The grandest sight to see
Was something lovely
Wrapped beneath our tree.(wrapped beneath the tree)

Well heaven surely knows
That packages and bows
Can never heal
A hurting human soul

 

What is this illusion called the innocence of youth?
Maybe only in our blind belief can we ever find the truth
There'd be-

 

No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
And everyone would have a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end
This is my grown-up Christmas list

Maybe that's where we can start the process of figuring this out, this lost magic of Christmas. Maybe we need to seriously grow our Christmas Lists UP.

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Let me offer you some hope for your Holyday Spirit.
Once upon a time a lady posted a link on facebook. New Horizons for Children- an organization that brings Eastern European orphans to America to spend Christmas with a real family. Magical, isn't it? Have you ever dreamed of bringing joy to an orphan? Of lifting a truly needy soul up from sadness and despair on Christmas, inviting them into your home to enjoy your blessings of a lovely tree, and cookies, and music floating on the air? Or is that just me? Tiny Tim, Anne of Green Gables, Little Orphan Annie? Just bring 'em on home to your house and do Christmas right? 
Well, I clicked that link and scrolled through some pictures of kids with no family. and suddenly, my heart stopped and there she was- Anastasija, my girl. I didn't know the Big Plan at that time, but I knew she was supposed to be in my home for Christmas. Many miracles took place, she came, and Christmas was REAL.

Really really really real. Like I cannot put it into words, but Christ came at Christmas in 2011. He came to my heart, my house, my church, and my community. People all around were blessed by the Spirit of Christmas, because their hearts were moved. You might have been one of those people. Do you remember?
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And then! God let us know she wasn't a one time deal, she was our forever girl. But that's not the story I'm telling today.

So, again:
AND THEN! In 2012, I simply posted about New Horizons on facebook and two more people I know and love were moved to host. Teenage boys, no less.

Edgars.

And Reno.
I speak their names with awe. Because God is working out His plan for them, too. To soften people's hearts, hearts that had been hard. And plans to prosper these boys and give them a future and a hope. Edgars is already adopted, not BY his host family, but THROUGH his host family. Because they hosted, another family heard the call and Edgars is THEIRS. He has a family for Christmas for the rest of his life. Talk about a Christmas gift. And Reno? God is working out that adoption right now.

And for these families, Christmas is real and will never be empty again. Because the Spirit of Christmas has come to their hearts.

God worked another miracle that year and Anastasija was HOME for Christmas.

The above picture was taken at about noon on Christmas Day. We opened our presents late last year. Our family didn't want to keep Christmas for ourselves, we wanted to give it to others. So we went to the VA hospital and sang Christmas carols to some lonely vets. And we were blessed. We were blessed. The gift we tried to give away came right back. How? The Spirit of Christmas was upon us again. Our focus was not on the gifts under the tree, it was on others. Even on Christmas morning, my kids were thinking of others. And that is an act of God, obviously. It looks like a lovely new tradition was born in our family, besides.

And this year? We're listening. God has a good plan for how we are going to give THIS Christmas away. (If you click one song link, please click this one, it changed my life!)


 I am so excited! I'm like a kid at Christmas! And that is the point.

It takes us right back to the beginning of this post.
Where are you Christmas? Give it away, and you will find it.
What is this illusion called the innocence of youth? Only in our blind belief can we ever find the truth.

Take a leap. Give your Christmas away this year, locally or globally, big or small, and watch how God gives it right back. The real thing. The Christmas you've been hungering for.

There's more to come about this Christmas thing. Stay tuned.

Peace.

God's crazy economy

I know God is rich. He owns the cattle on 1,000 hills. If I think about it, I am sure He laughs big belly laughs when we get all serious and say, "We're trusting God for the adoption money....$30,000.000!" We're all like, "WHOA, dude that's so much money." And God's all like, "I own the universe, to infinity and BEYOND. LOL" (yeah, God just LOL'ed)

But then, sometimes He does stuff just to be funny. Just for the glory of it.
I recklessly and happily gave away lots (according to our budget) of money yesterday, in two specific chunks. And today, when I opened the mail? We received two checks, one for the exact amount of the first chunk, and one for the exact amount of the other chunk. I'm serious. I thought I was being all crazy and throwing money around and God just threw it right back.

Because of that, we are not the only recipients of God's blessings. God blessed us, we let it run through our open hands to others, and then God put it back in our hands. Instead of just one family knowing of God's goodness and provision, two families do.

I found this good little article at Christianity Today:
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Key Bible Verse: "I am the LORD All-Powerful, and I challenge you to put me to the test. Bring the entire 10 percent into the storehouse. … Then I will open the windows of heaven and flood you with blessing after blessing." (Malachi 3:10, CEV) Dig Deeper: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

I urge you—plumb the depths of the parable of the talents. Take a good, hard look at the context of your life—nothing happens by chance. You are where you are and the way you are for a reason, for God's reason. The master says that when you invest the talents he's given you, when you are faithful to bear fruit from the little he's given you, he will give you more. And you will enter into his joy. People around the world are searching for joy. Where is it? How can we find it?

Here's the answer. Plain and simple. Straight from God: Invest what I've given you. Take a chance. Put it to work. Trust me. Make it multiply. Then I'll give you more. And you'll be happier and more content than ever fathomed. Don't believe it? Think of investing your talents the way the Old Testament describes giving your tithe [in today's Key Bible Verse].

We've all heard it said, "You can't out-give God." He's made me a believer. My joy is worth more than all the money in a zillion banks. What about you? Are you ready to take a good, hard look at yourself and determine what talents God has knit together within you?

—Bob Westfall in The Fulfillment Principle

My Response: How is the Holy Spirit prompting me to respond to this reading?

Thought to Apply: God has a way of giving by the cartloads to those who give away by shovelfuls.—Charles Spurgeon (British preacher)

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You should try it, it's really amazing, awe-inspiring, fun, exciting, liberating, and faith-deepening.
XO

Care package opportunity

From New Horizons:

Dear families,
As a mission team fundraiser, NHFC offers to personally carry “Ziploc” care packages and deliver them to former host children. We accept a gallon ziploc bag of gifts for a $50 donation, quart ziploc bag of gifts for a $25 donation or a flat envelope with flat items/letter/photo/stickers for a $10 donation. The bag must close and a contents list should be showing through. List some type of identifier on the bag such as the child’s name, orphanage, city, country and/or ID#.
Do NOT send items that are not allowed during hosting, no cash and no chocolate, it WILL melt.
Watch the weight and keep it light.
In most cases, we can deliver the package personally and photograph the child. If we cannot for some reason, our in-country coordinator will personally deliver or mail.

Bags to Latvia are due by January 20th and must be mailed to:

New Horizons for Children, 3950 Cobb Parkway Suite 708, Acworth, GA 30101.
Checks are due WITH the bag and are payable to New Horizons for Children

Anastasija- Breaker of the Chains

Weird

I read the intoduction to Weird by Craig Groeschel. I watched his first sermon in the Weird series.

I'm glad I did. Because it's good to know that at least I'm weird in a God way. Because there is no question I am weird. People's facial expressions when speaking with me as of late have provided all the confirmation I needed in case I wasn't already completely convinced of my weird-ness.

The puzzled expressions about why we would host a child from Latvia in our home, at Christmas, the busiest time of year, when I am 8 months pregnant, when we already have 'our hands full,' when she obviously wasn't 'starving in Latvia or anything,' when there are plenty of American children who need stuff, when we're not sure how it might affect our biological children, etc, etc.

The straight up confusion when we say that we'll go where God leads- even into an international adoption that requires three trips overseas and, oh, about 30,000 dollars. If God leads us, we will follow.

The main question that people seem to be struggling with is, "Why?" Why spend so much money to host a child for 4 weeks? Why consider expensive international adoption when you obviously have no trouble making your own kids?

Katie Davis, author of Kisses from Katie, and adoptive mother of 14 girls, answers some of the why questions with wisdom and grace in this excerpt from her book:

"A sweet friend pointed me yesterday to Genesis Chapter 33. Esau and Jacob are meeting for the first time in a long time. As Jacob approaches Esau, with his many children following close behind, Esau asks, “ And who are these with you?”
Jacob’s reply: “These are the children that the Lord saw fit to bless me with.”
We get all the questions. “Why do you do it?” “Why so many?” “How in the world…” “Why these specific girls?” “Why the number 14?” “Do you think its ok to adopt as a single Mother? Don’t they need a father too?” “Do you think they will have issues since you are not the same race?” We also get the compliments. “I don’t know how you do it!” “Good job!” “You must be so responsible!” “Your girls must be so well behaved.” We get crazy stares and huge smiles and every look in between.
Adoption is beautiful. Adoption is hard. Adoption is the Gospel of Christ and the promise of God’s love and redemption lived out in our lives. So I ask for your prayers. Prayers for understanding and peace and trust and the power of God that is more than all I can ask or imagine. And to the questions and the comments and the compliments, this is my reply: “These are the children that the Lord saw fit to bless me with.”"

For these four weeks the Lord has seen fit to bless me with a ten year old girl, in addition to the 3 I have already given birth to, and the one currently sitting on my bladder. These are the children the Lord saw fit to bless me with this Christmastime.

I know I am weird. I am listening to a still small voice that leads me on a narrow path that few can comprehend and even fewer choose to take. When God gives a direction, I follow it. If God sees fit to bless me with a child for four weeks, I will feel as blessed and honored and humbled as when He puts little people in my womb. If God leads me on a path that involves money I don't have and travel beyond my wildest Rick Steves' Europe PBS dreams- WOW! Cool. Let's see how He works THIS one out.

Why did we host? Because God told us to. Directly and generally: "God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains:" Psalm 68:6

Anastasija has not been lonely these last few weeks. In fact she could probably stand a little less attention from a certain 4 year old. She has shared a room with a 'sister' and earned a place in the heart of a two year old who asks, "Where's 'Nastasija?" She has been snuggled and loved and doted on. She has been accepted and cared for. She has been set in a family. God did that, because that's what He DOES.

XO

The Joy of the Lord is my Strength