Orphan Sunday!

Our church began Revival today....on Orphan Sunday!  :)  We were blessed with a message from Bro Daron about "Serving"!  How ironic!  Ron let us share a brief message at the end of the service to (hopefully) inspire everyone to continue to recognize that November is National Adoption Month.

Bro. Daron - We're looking forward to a return visit and even more excited to be able to visit their church soon!  

Joy and I were blessed to share and present a message during Children's Moments this morning.  So, that is what I want to share with you today.  Surely, if our children can wrap their minds around what we shared it will sink in with some adults.  ;)  I know it did with several of the adults in our congregation.

We know that God made His world perfect.  He designed it to be just what He wanted, and just what we needed.  Because we know God doesn't make mistakes, right?!  There are enough basic resources such as food and water in our world to feed the entire population of the world.  God has children all over the world and we know He loves us all just the same.  But for some reason all those resources aren't being shared with everyone in the world.  We know we should share, our parents teach us about sharing.  

We talked about how much money a BILLION dollars is.  And of course the kids said, "that's a LOT OF MONEY!"  We explained that it would take 13 billion dollars a year to provide basic nutrition to all the starving people in the world today.  That seems like a lot doesn't it?

 

But do you know what Amercian Christians spend just on bottled water each year? 

3 BILLION dollars.

 

American Christians spend 4 BILLION dollars a year on Makeup!  (ugh....we all do it ladies!  Fess up.)

 

We spend 7 billion on sporting events.  

We spend 11 billion on coffee.

 

13 billion on our pets.

 

20 billion on soft drinks.

 

21 billion on cable TV.

 

Each time for each statistic we counted out play money for the children (1 dollar was 1 billion) and provided them with an object to represent each thing.  (a bottle of water, a bag of makeup, football, movies for the cable tv, a dog food bag from our puppy at home).

 

We spend EVEN MORE than all that money put together on eating out each year.....105 BILLION.  (a pizza box and a happy meal container worked wonders).

 

How much did we need to provide food to the starving people of the world??  ONLY 13 billion.  

 

If we have so much, why do we give so little?  If we're spending 8 times as much money on just eating out as it would take to feed everyone in the world what is wrong??

 

The bible tells us in James 1:27 "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained from the world."  We need to learn to look after others and serve the Lord, by serving His people.  ALL of his people, all over the world.  The things that we have that we don't necessarily need represent the world to the children.  

Then we prayed that God would help us to find ways to shine His light in the world by serving others.  By looking after orphans and widows by giving up something that we don't always need and using that money for others.  

Joy and I, Orphan Sunday 2010

I know I enjoyed sharing the message with the children and I know Joy loved our time too.  She made an AWESOME new video that we shared with the congregation at the end of the service and we shared a little bit about JHAM (Joint Heirs Adoption Ministry).  Our orphan advocacy ministry that we began over a year ago is still going strong.  We will continue to advocate for the orphan.  We pray that you will find ways to do the same and serve others for Christ.  

Our biggest cheerleader!  Jia!

 I'll share Joy's video with you very soon!  We will be speaking out (more than normal! lol) the rest of the month to recognize National Adoption Month!  

What Will You Do?

November is National Adoption Month.  Not many know that.  I didn't know that until a year and a half ago.  I wanted to learn about all the things I could do and the ways I could advocate for the orphan.  Not because it was a new found hobby or because I had considered adoption (because at that point I hadn't).  But because I met some people.  Some little people......and God stirred my heart.

To look into little round faces with big brown eyes and discover I knew nothing about what it was like to be hungry when I complain "I'm starving!  Let's eat!".  I discovered I knew nothing about not having a place to come home to, because my home has always been there.  I discovered a lot of things about myself that I realized looking back on, I didn't like very much.

I was a spoiled American with a roof over my head, a soft warm bed to sleep in EVERY night, I had a refrigerator always loaded with food.  Even food I didn't like and would probably throw away when it spoiled.  I had more clothes than I knew what to do with (still do.....), I had a HOT shower and a toilet with running water.  But most of all, I was surrounded by people who love me.  Who have loved me from the start.  I have never known what it felt like to be alone, to fend for myself, to wonder what it was like to have people care for me when I'm sick or hurting.  I was allowed to be a child.  To run freely in my backyard playing with pets, toys, whatever I'd been given as birthday gifts.  I was given an education (even if I didn't want it, lol) and told I could become anything I wanted if I worked hard and set my mind to it.  I was privileged.  And I use that term loosely.  You see, we weren't rich financially but we were very blessed and I never knew just how much.

So you see, I learned what God was talking about when He said:

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

~ Matthew 25:40 ~

And what He meant when He said:

I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

~ John 14:18 ~

I learned what this thing 'adoption' is really all about:

he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—

~ Ephesians 1:5 ~

And the importance of 'adoption' on so many levels.  I'd read the words in my bible many times.  But never really looked at the true meaning of adoption.

Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies

~ Romans 8:23 ~

Realizing now, why my own adoption through Christ is so important, how could I have been so nonchalant about earthly adoption?  About being a true example of what Christ did for us, by having an opportunity to be that same example to a child, an orphan, on His earth.  HIS children.  About giving everything I have to help even just one.

He gave His all..... His everything...... HIS SON.  If only to save just one soul.  My soul.  Yet it was for many.

I want to celebrate, advocate, I want to give my all to 'defend the cause of the fatherless'.   Because those same children I want to help, are some of the same children who have shown me just how much you can have, when you have nothing at all.  If I have Christ, that is enough.

With 147 MILLION orphans in the world, what are you waiting for?  What will YOU do?  Will you [pray]?  Will you [give]?  Will you [go]?  I designed these shirts for Orphan Sunday and they are available for sale through our adoption advocacy organization, Joint Heirs Adoption Ministry.  All proceeds from the sale of these shirts will go toward an orphan ministry.  (I'll update you more on that surprise later!)  My family will all be sporting our shirts to church this Sunday, Orphan Sunday, November 7th.

 

Will you Pray?? 

That is certainly doable.

When you lay your head down on your comfy pillow,

snuggle in your nice soft bed under those plush warm blankets...

after reading your children a bed time story

and lovingly tucking them in at night...

Will you pray??

For those that have spent the day the exact same way they've spent every day before.

For those that have barely enough to eat and go to bed hungry.

For those that lay on the dirt under the bed of their parents because that's the safest place to be?

For those laying on a piece of plywood because that's easiest to clean?

For the ones who have cried or rocked themselves to sleep on their knees?

Can you give? Can you take some of the money you spend at Starbucks...or McDonalds? 

Can you give up buying that new pair of designer jeans?

Do we really need a minimum of 12 pairs of shoes?

Not sure where to give?  Contact me.

There are tons of ways to support orphans.  I can give you a dozen charities to give to...

that work in any country you want to support.

OR WILL YOU BE ONE TO GO?????

Who! Hoo!

Will you say YES??!! 

Will you choose to follow God's example and adopt a child of your own?

Will you choose changing the life of a child over...

a bigger house?  that new car??  your dream vacation???

Will you chose radical over the American Dream?

I can assure you, you won't ever be sorry!

PURCHASE YOUR SHIRT BY USING THE BUY BUTTON BELOW:

Size:

Child S (6-8) $20.00 Child M (10-12) $20.00 Child L (14-16) $20.00 Adult Small $20.00 Adult Medium $20.00 Adult Large $20.00 Adult XL $20.00 Adult 2XL $22.00 Adult 3XL $22.00

i will...

[pray] [give] [go]

Where Do I Fit In?

Do you ever have days that you wonder just where it is you fit in?  Where you can feel accepted for who you are and what you believe and why you do the things you do?  I thought all that stuff would pass when I hit adulthood.  After all, there's no more high school drama, there's no more mean kid making fun of you..... or is there?

Some people never find the wisdom to grow into caring and compassionate adults.  Heck, some people never find compassion period.  But you would think that a mature adult could accept others for who they are.  After all, isn't that what we teach our children?  Or hope to teach them?  That God loves us all, just as we are.  We all have faults, we all have special gifts.  Each one unique and made just the way God intended.

But, there comes a time in our lives (hopefully) when we change.  And I'm not talking about maturity or anything like that.  I'm talking about becoming that 'new creation'.  When old things have passed away and new things have come.  We become a Christian, we choose to follow Christ.  We become sold out to Him and want to give our all simply to serve Him.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

~ 2 Corinthians 5:17 ~

The Bible tells us that this is when our lives become the most difficult.  That others will reject us, that they will find us foolish.

The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.

~ 1 Corinthians 2:14 ~

But some days you never expect it to hit you the way it does....  right between the eyes, and right at your heart.

When your own family looks twice at you and wonders what has happened.  "That's not who you are".  Well, I beg to differ with you.  This is who I have become.  Because I have Him within my heart.  Yes, I choose to care about all people.  Not just the ones who are nice to me or who seem to fit into the mold of who others deem acceptable.

I choose not to cuss or drink, or make lude gestures or party like it's 1999.  Because I have other things to focus my time and attention on.  Serving HIM!  Serving Him in any way that I can.  Whether that is advocating for orphans and widows in my spare time or making a special gift for a friend in need, just because.

When you are surrounded by young people who ask "will you be offended if I tell a 'black' joke?"  Ummm.... yes.  If you have to ask if I might be offended, chances are you shouldn't share it with anyone, period.  Do I feel uncomfortable by their jokes and conversations about 'Jews' and other religions?

The answer, quite frankly..... "No".  I do not feel uncomfortable.  I'm saddened.  My heart breaks that just because I live in a rural area that people are still raising their children to be blind and ignorant to the rest of the world.  To the needs of others.  When I dream of adopting from Africa and then wonder if I brought a child home of another color how they would be treated by peers and their parents.  Just because of the color of their skin.

Heck, just because I choose to adopt (which I'm still working on the hubby for.....) that makes me "different" and somehow 'weird' in others eyes.

When you invite someone to a Thanksgiving meal and they are happy to be spending the holiday with you, that's great.  When they find out that your church is providing the meal and we can eat there and then play games at home together and spend family time together, it suddenly becomes a 'no thank you'.  Because of your church.  Because the Bible is taught at our church we are somehow labeled as 'different' or 'weird' or 'those people'.  Because it's not all about what God can do for you, but what you should be doing for God.  Serving Him, giving our all to Him.  Loving the unloveable, caring for the least of these.  Because we aren't learning about how God is going to bless us with a new car or home because He loves us so.

You can tell I'm on a rant, and I apologize for that.  I try to be positive 99.9% of the time.  ;)  And I seem to be all over the place....I'm just at a loss as to when I lost touch with 'reality' (as others see it).  I came home and of course shared with my husband.  Who offered up one of his amazing hugs, stroked my hair and reminded me that to others "we are foolish".

I just wish for one brief moment in time I could be surrounded by like-minded neighbors and friends.  Or live in a community of sold out believers that I could have fellowship with families that are full of children of all colors and nationalities and it would be the 'norm'.

So if you happen to be fortunate enough to live in the 'Emerald City', tell Toto hello and tell your neighbors just how much they mean to you.  Please.  For me.  Cuz for today..... I've had all the prejudice, ignorance, and finger pointing I can stand.

I continue to pray for those around me, as I pray for understanding and wisdom to be a better example than I have been.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

~ Matthew 5:43-45 ~

And I'm still praying for that reluctant husband, to say yes.  ;)  ♥

National Adoption Month

November is National Adoption Month and while it's nice to recognize an entire month to advocate and make a difference, I find it hard not to try to do something all year round.  At times I feel very inadequate and like I could never do enough to help all of God's children.  Yet I know it's impossible for me to help them all, so I choose to do what I can by sponsorships, pledges to projects like Mocha Club and 5 for 50, and praying earnestly for an adoption of our own.

How can we not do something?  I designed our own Orphan Sunday shirts this year and if anyone wants one, they are welcome to purchase one.  I mostly designed them with us in mind to wear and promote adoption.  My girlfriend and I will be sporting ours next Sunday and decided if anyone chose to purchase one, we will give the profits to missions and orphan advocacy.

We can give through sponsorships or pledges to organizations that can assist others.

Will you go.... on missions or go to pick up your own child to give them a forever family.

The very least we can do is pray, everyday.  For God's children to be comforted, fed, loved and to find a forever family to call their own.  

I made Joy a special shirt with China on it, a little heart showing right where she will go (again hopefully!) to bring a daughter home.  This is where Jia came from in China and Joy hopes to give her a little sister someday soon.

So, you see, there is plenty we can do for orphans around the globe.  Everyday.  Even if you don't feel called to adopt, you can pray and give to children that desperately need someone to step up and be the hands and feet of Jesus.  I challenge you to pray everyday this month.  I challenge you to give to an organization....even if it's just a one time donation.  I challenge you to consider adoption.  Do you have enough love in your heart, enough room in your home?  I have no doubt that you do.  What are you willing to sacrifice for the sake of one of His children?

I will pray.

I will give.

I am praying for my husband to say "Let's GO!"

Where We've Been....

I never thought I'd get through the month of May!  And then it passed and June came flying in and now I'm wondering where it's gone!  We've been going going going like crazy!!!  After prom, came graduations....

Tyler's 8th grade class had their graduation ceremony and the kids couldn't resist doing one last goofy picture together.  Yes, that's right.... those 7 kids made up the entire class.  Aaaahhhhh..... one of my favorite things about living in rural America.  :)  My son is the goofball in the center.  A face only a mother could love.  ;)  We were very proud, he played Amazing Grace on his guitar during the ceremony.

Then came Taylor's graduation.  I was okay with 8th grade.  I knew Tyler would have four years left, new exciting things to plan and attend.  But Taylor.... graduating high school.  Well, that was just almost more than this momma could handle.  I kept myself busy to keep my mind off of what I was about to face (i.e. her adulthood!), by making all the things for her reception.  Being a photographer, I had done her senior portraits, so of course we made special photo announcements.....

The last day of school brought fun and games.  Yep, the kids had a mud slide!  :)  my son, the ladie's man.  lol

After graduations came summer leagues.  Ball season was busy with games and cheering, and taking LOTS of pictures!  :)

Ball season came and went, and our van finally bit the dust.  So we had to bite the bullet and get a different vehicle.  Notice I said different....we never go new.  Thank goodness for Craig's list!  ;)  Got a Yukon.  Family wagon of the decade!  It's awesome and we love it.  We love even more that we got it for $3k LESS than trade in value!  After much prayer and searching, God led us to a couple that had to let their vehicle go as the wife had hip surgery and was unable to get into it any longer.  Their loss was definitely our gain. I don't think the thing had seen a dirt road until we brought it home.  Nice to have a dependable vehicle after being stranded last winter in a ditch, with no heat and three kids.  Ugh.

We ventured off on our 2nd annual family vacation.  What a blessing.  We'd been paying for it and saving up the last year and a half so it wasn't a huge hit to the budget.  Colorado became our new favorite place to be!!!  We'll definitely be going back to the Rockies!  The kids loved it so much they even ask if we could move there!  That's huge for a teenage boy about to start high school.

My big kids were both baptized this summer on June 13th.  What a glorious day for a mom and dad.  Nothing greater could we accomplish in this life than leading our children to the Lord and their salvation through Jesus Christ.

Our daughter officially became an adult in August and we celebrated her 18th birthday..... by telling her how very much we loved her!!!  lol  We've kept asking over and over what she'd like but she always said nothing. So what do you give the teenager who has everything she needs, and wants nothing..... gas cards.  :)

Total fun with a bonfire in the timber with her friends.... and mom pulled a scary prank.  Yes, it was funny but so not received well.  By anyone....  I screamed and hid.  When she couldn't find me, she ran all the way back to the house, me hollering and trying to catch her in her panicked state.... which I couldn't.  And then she upset the little one in the house, which upset dad.  Which put me on the doo doo list.  ;)  No more pranks from mom.  lol

School started back up and away they went....  Taylor to college (local college so she gets to live at home), Tyler started high school (heaven help us all!), and Tanner.....started first grade!  I'd say I need to adopt a few kiddos to fill that gap wouldn't you?!  ;)

Still praying and letting the Lord work on my husband for that one.

First Day of School 2010

We started sewing (a bit late at that) to fill a craft booth for a local festival.  Joy and I are doing fundraising with our little craft.  She has been praying and saving for home study number 2!!  I think Jia may have a little sister in her future!  And I'm saving for missions trips and a 'hopeful' adoption someday soon.

I'm still 'building' the website, but you can check it out at www.rockinragz.com

Our mission team will be heading back to Haiti in February 2011 and I'd like to be going with them.  I'd also like to make it to Africa sometime soon!!!!!  We recently got to say good-bye to my daughter's old youth leader who traveled to Africa to live for six months on missions.  So excited for him and loving his updates he's been able to provide through facebook.

Tanner took swimming lessons this summer and FINALLY learned how to swim!!!  We were so happy.  Zach did an AWESOME job with our kiddo and became Tanner's newest hero.  We're okay with that.  He taught him something that is a life saver and took a HUGE weight off our shoulders.

Tanner started flag football this fall.  His first year and he LOVED it!  I don't know who loved it more though.... him or dad.  ;)  He did such a great job.  There's definitely a lot of football in our future.

He got to be the quarterback too and can throw a ball like nobody's business for a 7 yr old!  lol :)

He had his 7th birthday.  It seems like we just brought him home from the hospital a week ago....  what happened?

And he got to be photographer for a day while mom was working.... we played after a session I had, and I let him control the remote.  Hilarious is all I can say.

Well, I've tried to catch you up on everything we've been doing over the last few months.  If you made it this far, God bless you!  And I hope you keep coming back for more, because I'm making a return to blogger land and hope to have some company along the way!  Lots to come!  I have posts waiting for Halloween and Orphan Sunday!  Woo hoo!!!

Much love everyone......