A reminder of God's Mercy

Last night we had the opportunity to share our passion and God's calling for us believers to care for his orphans. It was a wonderful and sweet time as we gathered with my parents small group. We had wonderful fellowship and a delicious meal together and then ... Doug and I had the opportunity to show the "Orphans Ticket Home" video and share our testimony of Maliah. You see, when someone hears the number 143,000,000 they immediately think ... it's too many, it's too hard to even put my mind around and so instead .... it's just easier to remain on the sidelines. 143,000,000 children without a family to love them. Can you imagine that? You see, to me, 143,000,000 is even more hard to grasp because if it weren't for the Lord calling me and me LISTENING, then that number might be 143,000,001. But, because of God's Mercy on me to continue to call me into his will and literally SHOUT sometimes .... "I have a daughter for you in China", I have been blessed by the amazing gift of MERCY! Because of HIM ... I can no longer sit on the sidelines. Their is still 143,000,000 children without a family and without a MOMMY!

When I arrived home, a sweet friend had sent me an e-mail. She had received an e-mail from someone from within our daughter's birth country. These people had shared with her the reality of how many woman in C choose abortions over life. I want to share just a few lines of what she wrote. When I read this I had an overwhelming sense of thanksgiving and of respect for Maliah's birth Mommy who had a choice and chose HER! As I read the words about how often the other choice is made, I was reminded again of God's MERCY! Maliah wasn't only chosen once, but she has been CHOSEN again and again. You see, her birth Mom CHOSE to keep her, the orphanage CHOSE to get her paper ready for adoption, the China Center of Adoption Affairs CHOSE to match her to us and we were CHOSEN by the Lord to be a part of his journey. Ultimately, in the end, our biggest prayer is that Maliah would CHOOSE following the Lord and placing her trust and her heart in him. One day, I hope she will see that long before she made that CHOICE, he CHOSE HER! Weeping, this is what I read ...

.... is considering an abortion as that is a VERY natural thing to do here. The abortion rate here is outrageously worse than in America because of the 1 child policy and other things. ****'s tutor so far has talked her out of an abortion, but others are pushing to do it. Lostness and depravity persist here ....

Those are the words I read last night. I have omitted any names to protect those people and some of the conversation. I just wanted to remind my friends who are walking this road of adoption ... especially to C, that their child was CHOSEN!

Thank you, my sweet friend, for a glimpse into just how big God's MERCY over my beautiful daughter was and is!

Canyon - who just simply makes me laugh

O.K. so, on a lighter note than what is going on in our world ... my Canyon.
Recently, Canyon got in the car from school ready to share. With Canyon, you never know when that might happen ... usually in his own timing. But on this day, it was immediate and it was with determination and conviction that he spoke:

"If it weren't for the word "NO", I"d be a dancing flower in the school play".

"What Canyon, did you tell them that you wouldn't be a flower"?

"I said, if it weren't for the word "NO", I'd be a dancing flower in the school play"

HMMMM, I thought - I hope he wasn't SUPPOSED to be the dancing flower in the school play because apparently, he has made up his mind otherwise.

You are right... I don't understand so many things

Recently, as some of you have seen, I have taken some time to share my concerns with this years presidential election. I know many who choose to remain silent as they fear that their opinion may cause division. I have heard some say that "political discussions never end well". This year, however, I have had such a stirring in my spirit and the ability to remain quiet has just been impossible. As a Mom to three young children, this election has caused a stirring in my heart ... a protection over them like a Momma bear!
I recently had a comment placed on my blog by a friend, "amy". While I do not believe that Amy and I have met in person, she has become one of those friends we find in blog land. I bet, if I got the chance to meet Amy that I would really enjoy her company. I can assume by her comment that she followed our family to China to mean that more than likely, she too is an adopting Mommy. That alone, gives Amy and I a kindred spirit of sorts and I love that. Recently, however, Amy commented that while she respected my views on the political scene .. she felt I just didn't understand why some would vote for Obama ... I believe saying that until I walked in those shoes .. I just wouldn't. I wanted to take a moment to address that point with Amy and with all of my friends ... in whichever party you claim. You see, I believe that Amy is correct on so many terms ... only not in the way she thinks.

You are right ....

I don't understand a tax policy that punishes hard work. You see, our country was founded on the Free market. So many have moved to this country in search of those freedoms where they believe in our motto that if you dream it you can be it. My Dad, who came from nothing, worked so hard all his life. He and my Mom were married when they were Seniors in High School. My Mom pregnant so young .. they had all the odds against them. Together they went off to college and my Mom worked three jobs to pay their bills and put my Dad through school. They tell of times when they had 12$ a week for groceries - with a baby in the house. My Dad graduated, spent the next 35 years working hard and working his way up the latter in his company. At 55, after years of being a good steward of those resources he earned, my Dad and Mom retired. Now, your right, I don't understand that someone like my Dad should be punished and should give what he's worked so hard for ... to someone else.
I don't understand why you don't see that as Socialism at it's core. I don't understand that while Obama himself said he wanted to "take a little of what you have a give it to those beneath you ... share the wealth" that that is o.k. with anyone of us. I don't want what is not mine and I surely want to keep what we and my husband work hard to make.

I don't understand why people do not see that the economy doesn't grow from the bottom up. You see, my friends, it is the ones who have the money and own the companies that give the rest of us jobs. If we raise the taxes on our employers, what do you think will happen? Do you really believe that they will continue to give you pay raises, bonuses, Christmas bonus and more. No, you see my friends, that's not how it works ... when a company is making profits ... they have more to give their employees - thus pay raises and bigger bonus structures. When a company is taxed heavier ... they also take from their employees. Here's an example for you. Some dear friends of mine own an Vision Center. She worked for 8 years .. joining the military because she didn't have the finances to go to college, and served her country. In return, our country gave her the opportunity to educate herself. She did and today, she works hard. Now, this same friend was recently telling me that if they increase her taxes she would be forced to take away so many things that she provides her employees - and wants to mind you. For one, she pays them an extra $150 per month to go and get health insurance. She has offered to have a group policy mind you ... but they turned it down. But if they increase her taxes .. she said that will be the first to go. Next ... employees. She already foresees letting go of at least two of her employees should the taxes fall where they say. You see, it is those in the 5% that they want to increase taxes on that gives us in the 95% the jobs and the paychecks.

I also don't understand that people believe they should receive a "refund" when they didn't pay anything in. Did you know that 30% of the taxes are paid by families making over 300,000$ per year. Did you know that 67% of the taxes are paid by families making 99,000$ or more a year. Did you also know that only 3% are paid by those making below that? Did you know that 40% of people do not pay taxes at all? Did you also know that it is those in that 40% that didn't pay anything in, that will receive a "refund" on the Obama tax plan. Now, friends, that's not a refund that's welfare! This isn't a republican talking point, my friends .. this is on the IRS website. So you see, I don't understand that those who pay nothing in will get a "tax cut" and refund, when they didn't pay anything in the first place. My friends, if you want to vote for this that is fine, but call it what it is ... it's welfare. I don't understand why they call that a "tax cut" - it is a complete spewing of lies out of the mouths of those who will profit from this plan ... making government bigger!

I also don't understand voting for a man who voted three times against the bill that banned infantcide. That is correct, this isn't abortion ... we're not arguing here whether we believe this baby was a living being ... these babies were living and birthed. Theses babies are left to die .... and he voted against a bill to make this illegal - 3 TIMES!

I don't understand how you can look past the associations of Obama. I don't understand why people are not concerned that our possible next president partnered on an education board with William Ayers ... a known and convicted terrorist. I cannot understand how anyone can look past this. I don't understand how anyone in our country can look past the FACT that Obama birthed his political career in the same living room of that same terrorist and yet when he was first asked about it .. he lied. I just don't understand.

I don't understand why we can look past his 20 years he spent in a church that preached hate. I don't understand why people can turn a blind eye to this fact - Obama spent 20 years in a church that preached hatred. I don't understand why people cannot see that those things that you are taught for so long, make up the essence of who you are.

I don't understand why the mainstream media is putting their fingers in their ears and that the L.A. times refuses to produce tapes proving that Obama had close ties and a relationship with Khalidi ... who is closely tied and lead the PLO. I don't understand how the mainstream media can continually lie to the American People .. showing only what they want to show and therefore, forming a power in the media that is very much on it's way to communism.

I don't understand why people can look past the very quotes of the man they are choosing to elect ... "To avoid being mistaken for a sellout I chose my friends carefully. The more politically active black students. The Chicanos. The Marxist professors and structural feminist". No, I do not understand how anyone can turn their back and their eyes to such rhetoric and believe that those very relationships and the very things within that man who spurred him to spend time in such associations .. wouldn't effect his ability to be the Commander in Chief. Obama said himself ... he chose relationships CAREFULLY ... look closely at the ones he chose!

I don't understand how we have gotten to a place where we have a presidential nominee who says the "Constitution has fundamental flaws"! This is the greatest country ever and that statement is unpatriotic to it's core!

I don't understand why people on national T.V. are calling Obama the "Messiah" and the "Savior" and yet ... when he is questioned he didn't not try to rebuke those words. I don't understand why that doesn't bother more people. Those terms "Messiah" and "Savior" are holy terms and it frightens me that so many are bowing at the thrown of a man - a simple man and yet he claims to be a Christian. I do understand that as a Christian ... I would fear the judgement on my life for accepting such comparisons and words.

I don't understand why Obama's history of working as a lawyer and in alliance with ACORN to pressure banks into making sub-prime loans has seemed to fall on deaf ears and yet ... the very man who lead the charge that brought us into this economic mess chooses to point his fingers on the party that fought to regulate it - YEARS before it happened. I don't understand that people do not see the truth there.

I don't understand how anyone can turn their eyes from the fact that such hate filled people such as Ahmadinejad, Chavez, Castro, and Hamas support Obama - .

I don't understand why Obama opposing the parental notification law is o.k. with any parent. As a parent, it is my legal right to counsel my child and to know when they are making such large and grave decisions. I don't understand that I have to give my permission at school for them to take an aspirin, but it is legal for them to have an abortion without my consent. No, I don't understand.

I don't understand why the media has turned their ears and blinded their eyes to the very things Obama himself wrote and spoke about in his first book. Maybe you should check it out for yourself. In that book he preached hatred and said that he believe and supported a communist government - it's his words and him speaking them! I don't understand why our country, why so many, have not found that disturbing.

I could go on and on about all the things I don't understand. On SO many levels, I don't understand why anyone could vote for such a hate filled man that has preached a mouth full of lies. His voting record, his words from his books, the history of his relationships, his church affiliation, and more speak to the truth of WHO HE IS! And your right, I don't understand why our country ... that I love so dearly, can look past all those things.

What I do understand is that as a believer, it my role to care for others. I believe that it is the role of the church and the people as a whole to take up our cross and follow the teachings that were laid before us. I believe that when Jesus told us the story of the Good Samaritan, that he was giving us an example of what to be to one another. You see, the Jew and the Samaritan would never be seen together. The Samaritan was considered filth and yet, when so many passed by the man who had been beaten and left on the side of the road ... it was the Samaritan that stopped to help him. I believe and I understand that that is the role that each of us are to be - that Samaritan. To care for one another. No, I don't believe that that is the role that is to be left to the government. I have witnessed as you have, a government that wastes money and resources and does little to help those who really need the help. I do understand hurting people. I do understand the need to put my hands on another's bleeding body and be the one to help put the pressure on their wounds. I do understand that, my friend Amy. And I do understand how to be that friend! I just don't understand the rest.

In God I trust! Praying for this nation and God's sovereignty over all of us!

I found this funny

A sweet friend of mine sent this to me yesterday. We have all heard of "Reaganomics" .... a term used for President Reagan's economic policies which at it's core brought our country into a great economic time period. This one is "Obamanomics" and this ... my friends, puts his economics into practice. Let's see how you think they stand up.

Today on my way to lunch I passed a homeless guy with a sign that read 'Vote Obama, I need the money.' I chuckled and shook my head.

Once in the restaurant, I noticed my young Server had on an 'Obama 08' tie. Again I laughed, but this time at the irony and the opportunity fate had just presented to me.

When the bill came, I explained to my hard-working, Obama-supporting Server that I was practicing the Obama "redistribution of wealth" concept. Then I withdrew a $10 bill from my wallet. He stood there in disbelief while I told him that I was going to redistribute his tip to someone whom I deemed needed it more--the homeless guy outside. The server, justifiably angry, glared at me and stormed from my sight.

I went outside, gave the homeless guy $10, and told him to thank the server inside as I'd decided he could use the money more. The homeless guy didn't hesitate to take the money and smiled as he said he was grateful.

At the end of my rather unscientific redistribution experiment I realized two things: the homeless guy was more than willing to take the money he did not earn, but the waiter was pretty angry that I gave away the money he did earn. Even though the actual recipient, the homeless guy, needed the money more, there was still something inherently unfair about me taking the money away from the guy who earned it.

I guess redistribution of wealth is an easier thing to swallow in concept than in practical application.

So many red flags

I have put on a video here that everyone should watch. My question raised is, wouldn't any one of us - whatever party - want to know if our candidate was hiding such important things. If Obama is truly a Natural born citizen, then all he simply has to do to dispel any myths or false accusations is to present the appropriate paperwork .. birth certificates, medical records etc. It alarms me to think that this case sits before a Judge and Obama presses for it to be "Dismissed with no standing". If truly, there is no standing ... then simply produce the documents and clear your name. I am not accusing, however, I am asking ... why is he not doing so? What does he have to hide? Having adopted a beautiful little girl from China, I am very familiar with immigration, the United States Center for Immigration and U.S. Citizenship. When our Maliah landed on U.S. soil she lost her Chinese citizenship and in turn one day in the mail arrived a letter from President Bush, welcoming her and certifying her U.S. Citizenship. While we mourned the loss of her heritage, we celebrated her new life and the life God was giving her. Barak Obama .. if you are truly a natural born citizen, required to be the President, then show the appropriate paperwork that most of us are proud to hold!

I'm on a roll here ...

O.K. so a dear friend of mine (Thank you, Karen) sent me a letter today from a man of God, a concert pianist and also an African American. His name is Huntley Brown and this he writes ... it's so well said ....

Why I Can't Vote For Obama
> By Huntley Brown
>
> Dear Friends, A few months ago I was asked for my perspective
>on Obama, I sent out an email with a few points. With the election just
>around the corner I decided to complete my perspective. Those of you on
>my e-list have seen some of this before but it's worth repeating...
>
> First I must say whoever wins the election will have my prayer
>support. Obama needs to be commended for his accomplishments but I need
>to explain why I will not be voting for him.
>
> Many of my friends process their identity through their blackness.

>I process my identity through Christ. Being a Christian (a Christ
>follower) means He leads I follow. I can't dictate the terms He does
>because He is the leader.
>
> I can't vote black because I am black; I have to vote
>Christian because that's who I am. Christian first, black second.
>Neither should anyone from the other ethnic groups vote because of
>ethnicity. 200 years from now I won't be asked if I was black or white.
>I will be asked if I knew Jesus and accepted Him as Lord and Savior.
>
> In an election there are many issues to consider but when a
>society gets abortion, same-sex marriage, embryonic stem-cell research,
>human cloning to name a few, wrong economic concerns will soon not matter.
>
> We need to follow Martin Luther King's words -- don't judge
>someone by the color of their skin but by the content of their
>character. I don't know Obama so all I can go off is his voting record.
>His voting record earned him the title of the most liberal senator in
>the US Senate in 2007.
>
> NATIONAL JOURNAL: Obama: Most Liberal Senator in 2007
> (01/31/2008)
>
> To beat Ted Kennedy and Hillary Clinton as the most liberal
>senator, takes some doing. Obama accomplished this feat in 2 short
>years. I wonder what would happen to America if he had four years to work
with.
>
> There is a reason Planned Parenthood gives him a 100% rating.
>There is a reason the homosexual community supports him. There is a
>reason Ahmadinejad, Chavez, Castro, Hamas etc. love him. There is a
>reason he said he would nominate liberal judges to the Supreme Court.
>There is a reason he voted against the infanticide bill. There is a
>reason he voted No on the constitutional ban of same-sex marriage.
>There is a reason he voted No on banning partial birth abortion. There
>is a reason he voted No on confirming Justices Roberts and Alito. These
>two judges are conservatives and they have since overturned partial
>birth abortion. The same practice Obama wanted to continue.
>
> God help him. There is a reason Obama opposed the parental
>notification law.
>
> Think about this: You can't give a kid an aspirin without
>parental notification but that same kid can have an abortion without
>parental notification. This is insane.
>
> There is a reason he went to Jeremiah Wright's church for 20
>years.
>
> Obama tells us he has good judgment but he sat under Jeremiah
>Wright teaching for 20 years. Now he is condemning Wright's sermons. I
>wonder why now?
>
> Obama said Jeremiah Wright led him to the Lord and discipled him.
>A disciple is one in training. Jesus told us in Matthew 28:19 - 20 'Go
>and make disciples of all nations.' This means reproduce yourself.
>Teach people to think like you, walk like you; talk like you believe
>what you believe etc. The question I have is what did Jeremiah Wright teach
him?
>
> Would you support a White President who went to a church which
>has tenets that said they have a ...
>
> 1. Commitment to the White Community
> 2. Commitment to the White Family
> 3. Adherence to the White Work Ethic
> 4. Pledge to make the fruits of all developing and acquired
>skills available to the White Community.
> 5. Pledge to Allocate Regularly, a Portion of Personal
>Resources for Strengthening and Supporting White Institutions
> 6. Pledge allegiance to all White leadership who espouse and
>embrace the White Value System
> 7. Personal commitment to embracement of the White Value System.
>
> Would you support a President who went to a church like that?
>
> Just change the word from white to black and you have the tenets
>of Obama's former church. If President Bush was a member of a church like

>this, he would be called a racist. Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton would
>have been marching outside.
>
> This kind of church is a racist church. Obama did not wake up
>after 20 years and just discovered he went to a racist church. The
>church can't be about race. Jesus did not come for any particular
>race. He came for the whole world.
>
> A church can't have a value system based on race. The churches
>value system has to be based on biblical mandate. It does not matter if
>it is a white church or a black church it's still wrong. Anyone from
>either race that attends a church like this would never get my vote.
>
> Obama's former Pastor Jeremiah Wright is a disciple of liberal
>theologian James Cone, author of the 1970 book A Black Theology of
>Liberation. Cone once wrote: 'Black theology refuses to accept a God
>who is not identified totally with the goals of the black community. If
>God is not for us and against white people, then he is a murderer, and
>we had better kill him.
>
> Cone is the man Obama's mentor looks up to. Does Obama believe
>this?
>
> So what does all this mean for the nation?
>
> In the past when the Lord brought someone with the beliefs of
>Obama to lead a nation it meant one thing - judgment.
>
> Read 1 Samuel 8 when Israel asked for a king. First God says
>in 1 Samuel 1:9 'Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let
>them know what the king who will reign over them will do.'
>
> Then God says,
>
>
> 1 Samuel 1:18 ' When that day comes, you will cry out for
>relief from the king you have chosen, and the LORD will not answer you
>in that day.' 19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. 'No!' they
>said. 'We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other
>nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our
>battles.' 21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated
>it before the LORD. 22 The LORD answered, 'Listen to them and give them a
king.'
>
> Here is what we know for sure.
>
> God is not schizophrenic.
>
> He would not tell one person to vote for Obama and one to vote
>for McCain. As the scripture says, a city divided against itself cannot
>stand, so obviously many people are not hearing from God.
>
> Maybe I am the one not hearing, but I know God does not change
>and Obama contradicts many things I read in scripture so I doubt it.
>
> For all my friends who are voting for Obama, can you really
>look God in the face and say: Father, based on your word, I am voting
>for Obama even though I know he will continue the genocidal practice of
>partial birth abortion. He might have to nominate three or four Supreme
>Court justices, and I am sure he will be nominating liberal judges who
>will be making laws that are against You. I also know he will continue
>to push for homosexual rights, even though You destroyed Sodom and
>Gomorrah for this. I know I can look the other way because of the economy.
>
> I could not see Jesus agreeing with many of Obama's positions.
>Finally I have two questions for all my liberal friends.
>
> Since we know someone's value system has to be placed on the
>nation,
>
> 1. Whose value system should be placed on the nation?
>
> 2. Who should determine that this is the right value system
>for the nation?
>
> Blessings, Huntley Brown

Praying for our nation

I received an e-mail today from a believer. I did not know them personally, it was one of those things that gets passed around from person to person. I read it though and thought ... maybe we should all go and read Revelation 13 for ourselves and see just what it says. Her e-mail showed the signs of the end times and the anti-christ himself. Wow ... just ... WOW - you should check it out!

This election, this campaign has had more people stirred than ever I can remember. Their is so much controversy that surrounds the Democratic nominee and yet with zeal and ignorance, the liberal partisanship looks past all claims, associations and history of this man and praises him. Just this morning I was watching the "Today Show" and Matt Lauer had interviewed Obama. In the interview he said to him "People have described you as the Messiah, the Savior - what would you like to tell the people they can expect and cannot expect - what would they have to sacrifice for our country"? As I listened to the words - described as Savior, Messiah, I was horrified that such a beautiful description of my Lord was given to such a MAN - never mind his lies and deceit .. he is a MAN! To see that the country has elevated him to a God like status is chilling. We are so ignorant and I believe that the Lord will judge the wicked, and discipline those who turns against him. Didn't we see him do such a thing in the bible? Didn't he flood the entire earth, leaving only Noah and his family and 2 of each creature? He did so because the wicked ways of man. He is a Righteous God who in his love for us, desires us to know him, pursue him and turn our thoughts and ways away from the world and to only him. I wonder now what he must think when he sent his son once .. the Messiah, the Savior to the world. He sent him to die for us, shedding his blood for our sins, removing our transgressions and yet ... a mere man, is being compared and even given the status of such a blessed gift. I shutter at what he would think. Then again ... he knows every detail ... and we can rest in that peace! Praise the Lord!

Recently, I was in a debate with a girl who posted on her "Facebook" that she couldn't wait to cast her Obama 08 vote. I sat on my hands from typing on the keys as I read those words. UGH. After some time, I decided to make a light joke of it and commented back "If you are so excited, then I'd be happy to take on the amount you will pay in your tax increase now, let me know and I will tell you where to send it" HAHA.
This friend and I began to have a discussion back and forth on our views of the political agendas of both parties. I will say, that it was done in respect and there was no hurt feelings and bitterness. Praise the Lord - we can discuss.
I listened to her views and tried to have an open mind but a few things she said just made no sense. Let me show you...

"I am willing to pay a little more in taxes in the hopes that it can help lift some very deserving folks up...but being here in DC, I do see so much waste in govt (and I even worked for the feds for a while)!! Ideally, the waste could be trimmed and new and better programs put in place, but that has not happened under the D's or the R's".

Now, my question is, if this well educated person who worked in a governmental office saw for herself that the government "wasted" money, then why does she want to give more to them to waste? She said herself that they did a lousy jobs in the programs and their promises and yet ... she places her trust in them for a bigger government, more programs and more empty promises. What does she think will change?

I am not trying to be ugly, I am simply asking a logical question. Her reasoning diabolically opposes each other at what she said herself she experienced ... the government wasting money and then her desire to give them more. Now, if I gave my son 10$ dollars and asked him to be a good steward of that money and he didn't - instead he wasted it on candy, things of no value or whatever ... I wouldn't as a parent go then and give him $20 more to do the same and think the result would be different, would I?

I guess I am stumped at why people cannot turn off their liberal talk shows and media and see the truth for themselves.
Our country was founded on Christian values. Our forefathers fought for Christian freedoms and Free capitalization of it's system. Now, we are soon going to be enslaved to socialist ways ... "spreading our wealth" as Obama shared himself with those who don't have as much. We will penalize the efforts of those who work hard and for those who create business's and wealth. We will also simply give handouts and in turn, continue a perpetual welfare mentality of so many. The 95% that Obama wants to give the tax breaks to are definitely going to be hurt by the 5% who receive tax increases. Can people not realize that it's the 5% that give the 95% there jobs? Just this weekend, I visited with a small business owner. In our conversation he shared that he had numerous employees in his office. He also shared what burden the increased taxes would have on his business that is already struggling. He then said "I told my office, as soon as Obama is elected you should put your straw in the cup so we can draw who will be the first to go". He said "I don't know which one of you it will be ... but I won't be able to keep you around if I have an increased tax burden. So ... there you go, job losses ....

Now that brings me to another point, if you do some research you will find that those who have the money are also those who donate and support Faith based agencies and charitable givings. It is through these organizations that so many are taught to "fish" rather than simply giving them the "fish". Didn't the Lord command us to do this in such a way - teach a man to fish rather than just "giving" him a fish? He also commanded us to love our neighbor and I do believe that that means helping care for them. In addition he tell us in James 1:27 "Pure religion is this, take care of the orphan, widows and foreigners among you and keep oneself from being polluted by the world". SO .. to my friend, I do believe that we should love one another and take care of one another ... but I also believe we the people and not the government should do the caring for as history has served as a bookkeeper on how well that's gone before. As one would say "How's that working for ya?"

I'd love to conclude my little diatribe with some scripture from the book of Matthew. Now, remember that talk show that said that people were calling Obama the "Messiah" , the "Savior" ....

This is taken from Matthew chapter 24 "Signs of the End of the Age" - I encourage you to read it for yourself.

24:4 "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, I am the Christ, and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.
24:10 "At that time many will turn away from faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.
24:23 "At that time if anyone says to you, "Look here is the Christ! or "There he is!" DO NOT BELIEVE IT! For the false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles and deceive even the elect - if that were possible.

BUT do not Fear .. it goes on to say in Matthew ...

24:30 "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see th Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. "

My friend, do you know what I speak of when I tell you that you can join the elect? it is so easy, all you have to do is believe that Christ came to this earth, died on a Cross for your sins and 3 days later rose again. While we were sinners he did this for us! He did this for you too! If you believe you are a sinner and your need that grace then tell him! He wants to give you that gift! He did so without any payment from you ... simply believing and receiving!
If you can believe that in your heart, and speak that with your mouth ... his gracious saving gift and eternal life with him is yours!
Do not fear what you see in this world ... As he says, he's coming on the clouds of the sky with, with power and great glory. And his angels will sound a loud trumpet call and he will gather his elect! That's ME - and YOU TOO - if you believe and receive!

The spirit of discouragement

I believe that the enemy is alive and present. I also believe the biblical premise that he is around every corner waiting to pounce. With that said, lately I have felt like prey and I am working on my spirit of discouragement .. the tool he is using to attack!
You see, if you know anything about the enemy then you know that he detests beauty! He also detests those things closest to the heart of the Lord. He detests God and opposes the things that our Father loves. I am seeing that first hand as I work on this Orphans Ticket Home Gala. The enemy detests the notion of giving an orphan .. a child, the opportunity to be placed into a God fearing home!
Going into planning this whole event, I had a rosy little picture in my head of how well received this would be and how much support we'd gain. As I sat proposing the idea to an Adoption Fellowship group I lead the response to make this excellent and to spread the message was astounding. Their was a huge desire to impact the Lord's Kingdom and his orphans! With that foreknowledge, I submitted to the Lord that I would indeed follow his command and calling I felt he had placed upon me to take this adventure on. Now, I must say, this is NOT something I do nor is it something I enjoy doing. While I love a task, I am not an entertainer or a host. You can ask my mother who will on any given time that I decide to host something feel the need to verify that I will be providing my guests with a snack and something to drink. NO ... I just don't entertain - it's not that I don't love the company but I just sink at the thought of it's preparation. While I love to be entertained and I love going to a good night out at someone's home ... I do not enjoy the organizing and the details of doing it myself in my home. SO ... as I sit here and type this, I wonder .. how is it I got myself into organizing an entire Gala ... the catering, the music, the speakers, the ticket sales, the marketing, the commitment cards, the silent auction and more. HMMM ?
Anyways, as I have move forward with this adventure I am quickly learning many things. First lesson, no one is as ever passionate about something as the one who is leading it. My sweet husband has said this for years and it is through this journey that I am realizing just how bright he is. I will remember this for the next endeavor.
Second, I am learning that for the most part, we as a people group are self centered and self serving. Now, please don't get your feelings hurt as I am in no way trying to speak about one certain person. I am simply making observations along the way.
Let me give you a few examples. Recently, I had been told by a church that I could speak at a ladies event to promote our Orphans Ticket Home Gala. I was going to get the privilege of sharing the DVD presentation and then a few minutes to follow up with the details on how those ladies could join the cause. A week or so prior to the event, I followed up to confirm that I was still scheduled to do such a thing. To my discouragement they had decided that my speaking did not fit the "theme" of their event and therefore I could have a table in the back of the event to put out flyers. Now, I want to include here that the theme was "hope and restoration" and if you remember, I am working to give children an identity and into homes so I was a little puzzled by the remark. I was told when pointing that out, however, that this event was speaking to the specific hope and restoration of the ladies in THAT specific church. HMMM - I suppose thinking outside the four walls would be difficult?
So, I did come to the event and I did set up my table with information and a large poster. I didn't want to pass up the gracious offer to even be present and the Lord can use any circumstance to plant a seed. When the speaking was completed, I went to the back of the event to stand at my table. From the stage, the hostess told the guests to please go to the back to the tables and also to meet the speakers from that day for their "meet and greet". Happily, I stood there waiting to share our cause with anyone who would listen.
A few moments later, here came the speakers and low and behold where do you think they decided to stand for their meet and greets ... right in front of my table. Yes, there they stood blocking any view of my flyers, posters and marketing efforts to the crowd. Not only that, they opted to use my table and my flyers as coasters to house their coffee mugs and Cokes while they greeted their fans. Even funnier was the crowd of woman who quickly formed a line next to me to buy T-shirts of the event. Few ... I can probably count on one hand, stopped to even ask what we were doing.
You can probably imagine that I left feeling quite discouraged that day. I have continued, however, even with that response to pursue speaking engagements with anyone willing to listen and opportunities to share with my community one of the thing closest to the heart of my Lord .. his orphans.
Time and again, it seems that the enemy works to keep my mouth shut or my message from coming across. He has put me a the tail end of bible studies when literally the guests are leaving and he has made me fight for even opportunities to share ... debating with others that the cause is worthy enough or relevant enough to share.
So, with that, I still continue to knock on doors and on most days, seemingly beat my head against the wall. My efforts feel small on most days and yet I know the call is HUGE and the Kingdom perspective is so worthy! The enemy, in his wickedly and yet calculated ways, works to continue to fill me with the spirit of discouragement. On some days, it feels like he's winning and on some ... I get enraged enough to fight his schemes.

With all of that, we move forward and we continue the calling the Lord had for Doug and I. We continue to share with anyone willing to listen the Lord's message on caring for his orphans. We continue to show our community just one way they can impact the lives of children ... coming for a date night out, mind you.
So, will you pray for our event. Will you pray that I would give it all to the Lord ... step aside ...and remember just whose night it is! Will you pray that those he prompts would follow through ... come, give, support .. whatever it is he prompts them to do.

THANK YOU!
Learn more about the event and the initiatives at www.orphanstickethome.org

Oooh do you want to see more?

O.K. so I am adding a few more pictures from our family shoot. I cannot even fathom how I decide which ones I'll print and hang. Do you think my home would look odd with a 190 pictures on the walls? HAHA

So ... here goes!

How do you like that pic?

O.K. so Sunday we took family pictures again with the wonderful, talented and beautiful Alyssa Welch! I have only begun looking through our 190 plus photos she has given me on a CD with all the copy rights. She is fabulous and the pictures are wonderful!'I think I could do picture a day for half of a year or something crazy! Anyways, Doug always grimaces when I say we're doing them again. It's work getting everyone dressed and yes, it cuts into playing football in the yard ... BUT .... Momma sure is happy when their done and I get to see the fruition of the work. I will post a few soon but I have changed our home page photo and here is another one too ....

Your choice, your decision ... the right answers

Your vote matters! Educate yourself - google it! It's there. Don't let the liberal media tell you what they want you to hear. Look for the answers yourself! This is a great start. Now ... watch and then dig and learn for yourself! We live in a democracy! We get a choice! We have freedoms, liberties and a pursuit of happiness! We live in a country that values hard work and are rewarded by the dollar for that work! Look at what is happening ... look at what is becoming of our great nation! Make your choice! Don't let someone else make it for you just because it's the "hip", "new" and "groundbreaking" choice.

Come be a part of bringing home 5,100 orphans!

James 1:27 "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after ORPHANS and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world"



PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS TO THE ORPHANS TICKET HOME GALA TODAY!
WWW.ORPHANSTICKETHOME.ORG

November 21, 2008
San Antonio, Texas
Keynote Speakers: Tom Davis - President of "Children's Hope Chest", Author of "Red Letters" and "Fields of the Fatherless"
Brian Luwis - President/Founder of America World Adoption Association
Worship: Songwriters, Billy and Cindy Foote - penned such songs as "You are My King", "Not a God", "Sing to the King"
Catering: Black Tie Affair
Silent Auction - have something to donate? - leave me a message - we'd love to have your product!
Childcare FREE with registration before November 12, 2008

Unable to attend - this is great for you out of town folks - go to the site, click the "REGISTER FOR A BANQUET" and choose "SAN ANTONIO" and then click "FLYING FOR A CAUSE" and make a donation.
Remember *AWAA is a non-profit 501(3)C so your donation is tax deductible!

We can't wait to see each of you! It's going to be a great night!