Menu planning

Just thought I would share a little gem I found on the internet the other day. When I used to teach small groups of women about how our family saves money, one of the most valuable tools I shared was making a monthly dinner menu. When you have a goal to your grocery shopping and a purpose for everything that you buy, you save money simply because you have a plan. Doesn't this look yummy?

When my oldest 2 were in diapers, hubby and I needed to shave our budget a bit. I needed to save my sanity by creating a diner routine, so I made a resolution to begin planning. I asked John to give me a couple hours at the end of each month to let me alone with the computer to plan a monthly menu/grocery list. We did our grocery shopping once a month with the exception of produce and dairy. This prevented impulse buys during multiple shopping trips while also helping me to know when to start dinner so that my family didn't have to turn to this for lack of poor planning.

That year was hard to begin something new, HOWEVER, dinner times were prepared, money was saved and and the following years made all that work pay off! I loved the next year because I would use the exact same menus as the previous year. Fortunately I had a (now obsolete) program that let me plug in the following year in the same month and voila last years menu would be current with the click of the mouse! I could 'recycle' my effort year after year and not have to plan all over again! This was done on a very OLD computer with an obsolete program for current operating systems so transferring all that work has not been possible. While I have kept this very old computer just for these menus, I have not had it plugged in for years. For a long while, I hoped I could find a current software with the same capabilities, but after coming up empty after some time, I kind of gave up on the effort to be organized again. Due to this lack of UMPH, meal planning has not been what it could be, ergo saving money hasn't been as efficient!
In an effort to become a better steward and to not live according to chaos, I finally set out on the pursuit to find a template that I could download much like the previous one I described. I was SO HAPPY when I found this little gem that is going to make my life a tad more efficient! While searching through the world wide web I finally found what I was looking for so I thought I would share. This is an EXCEL worksheet so it will only work for people with this software.
http://download.cnet.com/Excel-Calendar-Template/3000-2077_4-10346449.html
The download is absolutely free. Once I downloaded the program file, I had to save a copy to my documents folder (It automatically saves it to your temporary file folder otherwise). Then I used the 'save as' feature to save a copy for each month of the year and labeled accordingly (January menu, February menu, ect). For those of you detail folks........ with the year change, dates and days change with the changing of the year. So there is just a tad bit of cutting and pasting when you change the year to make the meals fall on the actual calendar days, but to me this is minimal planning rather than redoing the whole thing or winging it! ENJOY planning!

For those of you curious about meal planning I do have some documents that I can send out through e-mail of what I used to make it easier on us. Just let me know if you would like a copy by sending me an e-mail to jtmabpark@msn.com with the subject MENU PLANNING.

Reach out

Now for the application to the last couple posts about obedience..... Recently we made a move of sorts in order to come back into obedience. When we had purchased our home here to Lehigh Acres, we did so in the hopes of being a light to the community out here. We thought God might have some plans for a church plant in Lehigh, but while we were waiting on further direction from the Lord we had to continue in fellowship. The choice for where seemed obvious that we would attend the same kind of church we planned on affiliating with. However, in order to stay in fellowship, we were traveling about an hour south for church (Estero). As to why we were going so far away........ When you have been with one kind of church for the whole time you have been saved, it is very difficult to break away, even though it is just a 'name'. Sometimes there is a false sense of security in the name, rather than the God we serve.
Yet each time we were asked where we went to church, we would invite folks to church in Estero, but there was no interest in going so far away. Due to the fact we were only hosting a home fellowship in Lehig once a week, this was just not enough to get plugged into for many folks. During the time we were attending the church in Estero, we were encouraged to get plugged in somewhere. It was a dilemma of sorts due to the fact that we knew our involvement there was just temporary. When our purpose and vision was unclear for Lehigh, we decided to listen to the folks telling us to get plugged in. We continued praying but due to circumstances beyond our control we began to doubt God's ministry in Lehigh....... Our doubt lead us to believe we should just get plugged into something that is established (Estero). We did just that the next time someone asked for our help, yet all the while we were doing this, there was no peace. The more time and energy we placed into getting plugged into our current fellowship was taking away from the ministry God had already placed on our hearts for Lehigh.
After a couple months of clarity, we began to feel the Lord calling us back to Lehigh. We shared our excitement and hearts with the folks in our current fellowship. Some were very encouraging and excited with us at what the Lord was doing!
After a lot of prayer, we have come to be apart of a church here in Lehigh that shares our passion to reach the lost. It is an intimate fellowship where everybody knows your name. They strive, through much prayer, to reach out and getting to know the people in this town. There are so many reasons why people will not step foot inside the doors of a church, so this is the reason why they chose to go to them. Sometimes this means going door to door and other times it means hosting events at local parks. The idea is to be available to the people we meet and to let them know how much Jesus loves and cares for them. We have been apart of 2 of their community outreaches. In each one, God clearly made appointments with some people who did not know Him. Others that did know Him embraced what we were doing and were very encouraging to chat with. Something we heard over and over again was the fact that people really are looking for a church but are at a loss when it comes to finding the right fit. It was such a blessing to have the opportunity to meet people where they are at, pray with them or just love on them.
The most awesome part was the fact that I am not the only one thrilled to get to do this. Our kids were richly blessed while getting the privilege to bless others. One thing I saw in them was that you can not raise children with evangelistic or servants hearts unless they are given the role models to see faith in action. No scripts, no do overs, but priceless opportunities to be the hands and feet of Jesus. To leave God's fingerprints in the places unseen. We are all just so privileged to become apart of something bigger than ourselves that God is doing to lead people to Himself. Fruit born due to a labor of love is one that lasts for eternity.
Being a child, my eldest saw a need that us adults didn't see at the last outreach. She asked, "What about the kids? Can we give them something tangible to show them Jesus?" Our pastor was very supportive and told her to think about how we could meet that need. At first, she just wanted to give the kids some candy, but after we talked about it she saw a more eternal need. Giving candy is sweet but eternity with Christ is even sweeter. We looked up how to make salvation bracelets. Her enthusiasm lead to ask if she could do this with her own money. In support of her ideas a few of the ladies at church helped pitch in with supplies as well. Both the girls ended up handing them out and diligently sowing seeds alongside the adults.
Afterward, all the folks without heat exhaustion came on over to the house for some pool time and fellowship! There is nothing better than spending some quality time with our church family!

Obedience part 2

The next chapter of the book talks about how God can take damaged dreams, if we allow Him to, and use what we have, to create something amazing. First we look at Naomi & Ruth. The description given regarding Naomi is “A women who forgot her dreams” A short synopsis of what has occurred here is that Naomi has recently lost her husband and 2 sons, leaving she and her 2 daughter-in-laws widowed. Naomi knew that in order to survive she needed to go back to her homeland in Judah. Since both of her sons married Moabite women, Naomi knew they would not be well received amongst their family/people. So she encouraged her daughter-in-laws to go back to their parent’s homes where they would be taken care of. In seeing God’s hand of provisions and protection on the family that they married into, each of them pleaded to go with her. However, Naomi insisted they go back to their own people. In Ruth 1:13 she even says that “it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me!” Knowing why they wanted to come, she gives no reason to stay because of God. One of the girls, Orpha was quite grieved about it, but did as Naomi said and went back to her family. Ruth, however, did not give up her loyalty to her mother-in-law and made a pledge to Naomi here. And Ruth said, Urge me not to leave you or to turn back from following you; for where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God my God. ¹⁷Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts me from you. (Ruth 1:16-17)

In verse 18 you see that Naomi was not happy with the arrangement but instead just decided not to talk about it anymore. If you read ahead to verse 20, you’ll see that Naomi is writhing with bitterness for the loss that she is suffering. Despite the fact that her daughter in law is also mourning her own loss, Ruth pushes that aside to look after her mother-in-law. After they arrive in Bethlehem, word begins to spread about why they came back. Ruth pays no attention to this and just gets to the business of caring for the two of them by gleaning in a nearby field. The owner of the field, Boaz, took notice of Ruth and after hearing her story of tragedy and commitment he watches after her. Due to these factors and her dedicated work ethic, she earned favor among the field hands and the field owner. She was even given special permission to eat and drink where other gleaners were not allowed to. (Ruth 2:8-16) When she comes back home with portions of grain that proved the favor she had found you begin to see a glimmer of hope in Naomi’s eye (Ruth 2:19-20) While it may seem a coincidence that Ruth would just so happen to glean amongst one of Naomi’s relatives, with God there are no coincidences. Naomi’s despair was extinguished through Ruth’s obedience. That obedience produced a miracle of god’s provision and redemption when Boaz accepted the responsibility as kinsman redeemer in chapters 3 & 4.

Now let’s go to 1 Kings 17 where it speaks of God’s provision for Elijah during the drought. Everywhere God told Elijah to go in order to provide for him, he was immediately obedient to go. In verse 8 he told Elijah to go to the city of Zarapath where a widow would provide food for him. Once he arrived he spotted the widow gathering wood. He asked her to give him some water and once she was on her way to do this, he mentioned bringing some bread as well (v10-11). In her despair she answers in verse 12 “As the Lord your God lives, I have not a loaf baked but only a handful of meal in the jar and a little oil in the bottle. See, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and bake it for me and my son, that we may eat it--and die.”

Did you catch that? This was going to be her last meal. There was no hope in her eyes, only the shadow of death in her near future. Could God have been mistaken sending Elijah to this woman who had nothing? So then…. “¹³Elijah said to her, Fear not; go and do as you have said. But make me a little cake of [it] first and bring it to me, and afterward prepare some for yourself and your son. ¹⁴For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: The jar of meal shall not waste away or the bottle of oil fail until the day that the Lord sends rain on the earth. ¹⁵She did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. ¹⁶The jar of meal was not spent nor did the bottle of oil fail, according to the word which the Lord spoke through Elijah.

God did not NEED the widow’s help to feed Elijah. However, the widow needed to feed Elijah in order to restore her hope. Through her obedience, she was able to participate in a miracle. Each morning when she opened up her cupboard it was a reminder that God had not forgotten them.

Sometimes when we have broken dream or a difficult trial we tend to think that God has forgotten us. Yet the focus on our circumstances only takes the finite (us and our immediate surroundings) into account where as God’s plan incorporates so many other people. Some who may never see eternity but need to be given and opportunity of eternal restoration. His plans are not only about us but how we can witness of Him to those around us. We are given the privilege to be used to redeem what has been broken if our eyes are on Him.

I love the amplified version of these verses.

Hebrews 13: 5 Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!] 6 So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?

Everyday we get opportunities to obey the leading of the Holy Spirit in the big things and the little things. By these acts of obedience, we could have opportunities to play apart in eternally miraculous happenings the Lord has planned! We could be used to restore someone's faith that has been broken by the circumstances not of their choosing! If we realized that our lives were about more than just our immediate situations, but about an eternally infinite God reaching out and meeting people where they are at? Would our checkbooks and calendars appear to have different priorities that their current state?

We were placed on this earth for HIS good pleasure. By remembering and living this in our every day, we are fulfilled beyond anything we could ever manufacture ourselves.

In closing I leave you with a final quote and excerpt from a book I am reading:

“Instead of merely asking God to bless your kids, meet your needs and fulfill your personal goals, seek God for how your family can bless others, meet others’ needs, and help fulfill God’s goals. Rather than praying, ‘Lord please bless our plans’, find and follow after God’s plans – because God’s plans are already blessed”

The Mission Minded Family

Ann Dunagan

Way cool stuff that the Lord has been showing us! It is incredibly encouraging to see things a bit less from our limited viewpoint to see God's amazing tapestry pieced together using broken but willing vessels!

Obedience part 1

I have been doing a bi-weekly small group biblestudy with some awesome ladies whom I first met when we moved into the Cape. We have been going through the book ‘The Five Dreams of every Woman’ by Sharon Jaynes. While each chapter has been very thought provoking and challenging, I wanted to share a couple of the latest chapters. Let’s just say they encouraged me along the path God has called us to so the scriptures we studied were very encouraging & powerful.

This chapter’s focus was about Sarai (Genesis 16). It was entitled “A Woman Who Interfered with God’s Dream.” This part of Sarai’s life was utilized to expose how taking matters into our own hands, thereby taking them out of the Lord’s, can change the course of HIS- story. When God is not moving at OUR pace and we see things through our jaded viewpoint, we can make a colossal mess by fixing something that God is doing. The effects of this one sin of Sarai’s, is felt among us today. It is the reason why there is a war between the descendants of Ishmael (Muslims) and the descendants of Isaac (Jews). Each one claiming the promise given to Abrahm by God to the ‘first born’ as their promise. Taking matters into our own hands was the part of her story of what not to do…….

Now we learn of another situation where one stayed loyal to the Lord while others devised their own plans. Exodus 24 is when Moses went up on the mountain to wait on the Lord. He was up on the mountain for 6 days before God appeared (Exodus 24:16). I am not sure about you but knowing my flesh, if I waited for the Lord for this much time I would have been having some serious doubts about if I was on the right mountain, if I was no longer worthy, ect…… However, Moses knew if He came down the mountain without direction he could never ‘fake’ his way into the promise land. He needed to wait.

On the 7^th day God appeared to Him and they were up there for 40 days (Exodus 24:18). Can you imagine 40 days of alone time with the Lord? That would be an amazing experience! Yet as we read in Exodus 32:19, when he came down, he is met with people who have already given up God for something tangible. God took too long, so the people replaced him. Yet when they were confronted with their sin, the blame shifting began and repentance was not present. (Exodus 32:20-24)

So many times, when the Lord tarries and we do not give Him the time to answer our request we do the same thing. We run ahead and FIX our eyes on something to replace the void. We may even replace it with something good but there is a big difference in a good thing verses a God thing. When we are called to account of that replacement, the heart attitude determines the consequences of what happens next. God is a jealous God. For the unrepentant hearts of those stuck in idolatry the results were death (Exodus 32:26-28). The unrepentant sin stained everyone in the camp.

As we can see from the situations above God’s timing was not according to the finite and present time but according to the eternal perspective. 2Peter 3:8-9 says ⁸Nevertheless, do not let this one fact escape you, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. ⁹The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people's conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance.

There were so many awesome scriptures posted about waiting on Him and His plan so I am just going to post them all. I used the amplified version which is a bit wordy for some.

Psalm 5:3 In the morning You hear my voice, O Lord; in the morning I prepare [a prayer, a sacrifice] for You and watch and wait [for You to speak to my heart].

Psalm 37:7 Be still and rest in the Lord; wait for Him and patiently lean yourself upon Him; fret not yourself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass.

Proverbs 20:22 Do not say, I will repay evil; wait [expectantly] for the Lord, and He will rescue you.

Isaiah 30:18 And therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship]!

Isaiah 40:27-31 Why, O Jacob, do you say, and declare, O Israel, My way and my lot are hidden from the Lord, and my right is passed over without regard from my God? 28Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not faint or grow weary; there is no searching of His understanding. 29He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound]. 30Even youths shall faint and be weary, and [selected] young men shall feebly stumble and fall exhausted; 31But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.

Isaiah 64:4 For from of old no one has heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen a God besides You, Who works and shows Himself active on behalf of him who [earnestly] waits for Him.

God Keeps His promises

Psalm 33:10-11 The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nought; He makes the thoughts and plans of the peoples of no effect. 11The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the thoughts of His heart through all generations.

Psalm 138:8 The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, endure forever--forsake not the works of Your own hands.

Psalm 127:1 Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.

The closing thought of the study was simply:

If you are waiting on God to fulfill His plans for your life, just remember: He does NOT need our interference. He simply requires our obedience. Commit to wait on God’s leading, direction, wisdom and provision for your life.

In the next post I will share some biblical examples of the blessings that occur, not only to us but to the people we get the privilege to come alongside, when allowing Him to lead!

Love & such

Been thinking a lot about this album that I was recently introduced to......... As per many things that have occured this year that we did not expect to happen these have been a helpful salve bringing my focus back where it should be. Thought I would share it with you. You will want to mute the side bar music. If you are reading this through your e-mail you will have to click over to the website in order to listen to the songs.

I’m tempted to sit back in my overstuffed chair

with a gavel in hand and a tired-eye stare that says

I’m not surprised you’ve messed it up again

I’m tempted to sigh, I’m tempted to yawn

if you’d only do life the way I’ve told you all along

It could be so easy

If you would only be more like me

But oh, that’s the beast that brings us down

It’s the devil in a satin gown

So don’t, don’t call it love (don’t call it love)

love wraps herself around the wound

and weeps while she speaks truth

So don’t call this love

Too much to say, not enough time

you’ve got so much to learn it’ll hurt for a while

but you know that I’m only concerned

I- only want to help

You got what you gave

I said that you would

I guess it must be really hard to be so unsure,

but it could be so easy if you would only be more like me

Chorus

Come along beside me

I’ll come along beside you

and I will wash your hands in my tears

I’ll take your boots to the river

and we can sing

where love makes music

love makes music

##############################################################

AND THIS ONE.....

A Thousand Things

You’re gonna cry yourself to sleep

Your’re gonna soak the pillow

for many weeks

You’re gonna cry

Why?

Why me?

But in spite of the ache

that doesn’t go away

You’ll be sharing your story

one rainy day

And at the next table somebody catches your words

He hears a truth that he’s never heard

He takes it back to the marriage he’d given up on

Hands it down to his daughter

who writes it into song

You didn’t know

A thousand things are happening in this one thing

Like a thousand fields nourished by a single drop of rain

So honey, wrap yourself in promise

while you wait the morning light

A thousand things are happening tonight

You’re gonna cry yourself to sleep

‘cause for the moment all that you can see

Is what you’ve lost , lost

Why me?

But in the midst of the most exquisite pain

you’re drawn into a peace that You cannot explain

and the praises you sing of a sovereign God

reach the girl whose last hope is gone

she never thought there was purpose in anything here

now the seed has been planted and it’s taking root there

You didn’t know

Chorus

A thousand things are happening tonight

You’re gonna cry yourself to sleep

A thousand miracles you’ll have to wait and see

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Thankfully there is this one too:

EVERYTHING MOVES BUT YOU

When I was a child, I held to my mother tightly

Then I grew taller and left to follow my dreams

I went after my dreams, and some of them brought me delight

But they didn’t bring me everything I hoped they might

I fell into love like a skydiver in the clouds

It wasn’t enough, no, we couldn’t sustain it ourselves

All the things I pursue

Well, they stay for a season,

Then everything moves,

Everything moves, oh

My towers fall,

But you aren’t leaving me

‘Cause everything moves but you

I trained my body to run and not be weary

I worked and I read how to raise a better family

Then I bought a good house on the safe side of town, because I could

And as long as my life stays like this, I’m feeling good

Until my bones become brittle against my will

My heart is home, oh, to make the earth stand still

All the things I pursue

Well, they stay for a season,

Then everything moves,

Everything moves, oh,

My towers fall,

But you aren’t leaving me

‘Cause everything moves but you

You…I never outgrow you

You are a tree always in bloom

You are a hall of endless rooms

A living fountain springing up

I’m satisfied but never done

I’m never done

With you

Chorus

Memorials

This is a post that I wrote several years ago, before I began blogging. It was a journal entry from a place when God was doing a lot of cleaning house as he was peeling back the layers of my heart. I may share more journal entries of pre-blogging days as they can be great memorials of God's never-ending grace and unrelenting pursuit of us as His bride.

To make a long story short of why this old post is now relevant, a series of unfortunate events have transpired. Have you ever wanted to 'forget' about allowing God to do something in your heart because it meant this left you vulnerable to be hurt? These events made me so want to shrink back to the days before He began softening/melting away the layers of hurt that served to shield my heart. A time where, at the Lord's leading, my heart spilled out and I fell on the rock begging Him to help me trust Him in order to become vulnerable enough to trust others. It was a time of healing and restoration. Despite what has currently taken place to make me want to 'go back' and cling to old patterns of my flesh, God beckons once again. My heart pours out as I beg God to help restore my trust in others. God is sovereign and as He has proven over and over again, his promises are loving, true, and for my benefit. So for those of you wondering what the Lord is doing with our family, we are rebuilding memorials of His faithfulness, His provision and asking Him to restore the very clear direction we once had for this city where we live.

*************************************************************************************

Joshua 4 1 When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua, 2 "Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, 3 and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan from right where the priests stood and to carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight." 4 So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, 5 and said to them, "Go over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, 6 to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, 'What do these stones mean?' 7 tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever." ……….. 17 So Joshua commanded the priests, "Come up out of the Jordan." 18 And the priests came up out of the river carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD. No sooner had they set their feet on the dry ground than the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and ran at flood stage as before. 19 On the tenth day of the first month the people went up from the Jordan and camped at Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho. 20 And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan. 21 He said to the Israelites, "In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, 'What do these stones mean?' 22 tell them, 'Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.' 23 For the LORD your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The LORD your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. 24 He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God."

God commanded the Isrealites to build a memorial to help them remember the awesome thing that the Lord did for them. They would have an amazing legacy to share with their children. This memorial was something visible so that they could never forget to share with their kids, grandkids and the many generations that followed. A physical proof designed to recall, reflect and remind a feeble minded people of the miracle of God’s provision in their lives.

So many times I have found that I take this concept to a different extreme. Instead of building memorials that show the next generations what the Lord has done for me & my family, showing evidence of His faithfulness toward our provision ……… In my flesh, I build different kinds of memorials. Unfortunately, these memorials are designed to protect & serve the purpose of self preservation……….. They are memorials to help bring to the forefront of my mind, hurtful words or actions done or said against my family or myself. Memorials that remind me not to get too close to anyone that will eventually either intentionally or unknowingly chose to hurt myself or someone I love. Idols that keep my mind held captive to what is not glorifying to God. Memorials of bondage…… bondage to what has either already transpired or will not yet be given the opportunity to transpire. Memorials that rob, cheat and steal God’s joy, peace & fruit in my walk with Christ.

The memorials in my life that I need to dwell on with the kind of devotion that the Lord desired for the Isrealites, should be ones that reflect this verse.
Philippians 4:8-9 8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

I was chatting with a pastor at church, who knew the process in which the Lord was taking me through and I told him........ "I asked the Lord to do this work in my heart, spilled out the pain, help me forgive and show me how to love despite unrepentance, but then it just gets thrown in my face again. How can I ever overcome something that never gets resolution." He replied very simply "The day you get it thrown in your face again and it does not make you cringe, with be the day God has had HIS way with the hurt and true healing is complete. There need not be resolution or even restoration, but the burden of the weight needs to rest on the Lord's shoulders, not yours." What he was showing me was that it isn't till that work of God or knowledge comes to life again and challenges the purification when we are given an opportunity to 'try again' that WE discover if God has a fully surrendered, purified & contrite heart. It is never a mystery to God, yet we are the ones who trade ignorance for the reality of where our heart finds its allegiance.

Sympathy is no substitute for action

This was a quote spoken by David Livingstone that described our family's presentation for this morning.


Sympathy is no substitute for action. David Livingstone


Our children are apart of a co-op where each family is required to give an oral presentation in front of all the other families to share about something regarding their family. Since we are in the process to adopt AND Orphan Sunday is this week, we decided to share a little bit about what we have discovered on the journey. Here is the informal speech the kids and I shared with our group.

Abby
About 4 in 10 Americans have considered adopting a child at one time in their lives. This equates to about 81.5 million adults. There are 150,000 children in foster care awaiting a couple willing to accept them as their forever family. These children would all have a family to call their own TODAY, if only 1 out of these 500 adults, who considered adoption, actually pursued and completed the adoption process. (National Adoption Attitudes Survey, June 2002)

500,000 children are in need to be loved & understood by caring foster parents due to a painful event that caused them to be taken away from their real mom & dad.

Ben
Worldwide, 15 million children have lost both their father and mother.

Tens of millions more do not have a FATHER in their lives.

Every 18 seconds a child becomes an orphan.

Every 15 seconds a child looses one parent to AIDS.

Michaela
Orphans are more at risk of becoming victims of violence, abuse, exploitation and trafficking.

Please allow me to share with you some common myths about adoption

Myth: Adoption is only for people who can’t have children of their own.
Reality: It is a logical belief that, by default alone, this is who may be ‘best suited’ for adoption. However, this is not the way the Lord works. When the church entertains this assumption, we in turn, reject God’s heart. There are over 40 scriptures in the Old Testament that show God's concern and compassion for orphans. If we are to put on the mind of Christ, we too, would share in his heart for orphans, seeking Him in how we can serve the least of these.

Myth: Adoptees are more likely to be troubled than biological children
Reality: Research shows that adoptees are as well-adjusted as their non-adopted peers.

Myth: Adoption is outrageously expensive therefore putting it out of reach for most one income families.
Reality: Through the foster care system, adoption is virtually free. Plus there is a state subsidy & medical insurance that continues after the adoption is final, that provides for the child till they are 18. The tax credits put in place for people who adopt, fully reimburse MOST adoption expenses! Simply put, adoptions are often, no more expensive than giving birth. Yet, strangely enough, one expense is favorable and the other is beyond your reach. There is a sad truth that is never considered when talking about this dollar amount. God loves ALL kids. They are each a PRICELESS masterpiece of his creation. His heart’s desire for each orphan is to be cared for, loved and cherished. God is not up in heaven struggling with how He can provide his church with enough money to care for them all. It is very clear in scripture that He is awesome at providing for our needs and that He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. If He is calling you to do something, there is no such thing as an amount of money too great to meet the needs of God’s kids.

Myth: Parents can’t love an adopted child in the same way or as much as a biological child.
Reality: Love and attachment are NOT the result of, or guaranteed through, blood relation. The intensity of bonding and depth of emotion are the same regardless of how the child joins their family.

Abby
While many Christians give a ‘good reason’ why they do not feel called to orphan care, most reasons when stripped away, have more to do with fear than living out and seeking God’s heart for the orphan. As much as we might not want to admit it, many of us don’t like to think about orphans because, frankly, we’re scared of them. There is no doubt, orphan care can be risky. These kids need to be raised up, to be taught, to be hugged, and to be heard. Children who have been traumatized often need more love, attention and care than we ever thought we could give. It is so much easier to ignore those cries, however, true love of any kind is risky. The Gospel shows us that this self-sacrificing love is all worth it. God modeled it, even to the point of sending His son to die for us so that we may see eternity. As X-orphans ourselves, God had our eternity in mind when He created our forever home. The price of that sacrifice was great, however, it was priceless to Him because we are His kids.
My Part
In looking through the eyes of our children we model for them, God’s heart. Such an amazing & crucial responsibility. There comes a day when our kids SEE for the first time, what we have learned to ignore. Their hearts break when they SEE pictures of less fortunate children in the world. In response, we must bridge the gap of geography. These other children go to bed hungry, isolated from people who truly love them, and endure deplorable living conditions. With tender hearts, they wonder with uncertainty “Do you know about this?” conjoined with another thought, “What are we going to do about this?” Big questions for tiny hearts to grasp! It is inquired upon with such profound wisdom and a lively faith that inactivity should not be a choice. Their need to seek out justice for ALL of God’s kids, just bursts with possibility of a faith so large it must be cultivated.
Research has shown at ages 2 through 10, we validate or suppress their understanding of injustice by our action or idleness. If we chose to act, we show God’s love and compassion for ALL children and rightly reflect God’s heart. At this age and with their amazing childlike faith, it is not acceptable for life to be so hard, unfair or uncertain. When they are constantly told that the problem is too big and they are too small, this kind of ignorance fuels apathy.
By Jr high they become numb to the angst of injustice that was once so active within their hearts. Their desire to seek out God’s heart for the orphan is silenced by adults who have become numb themselves to the plight of orphans.
Once this continues into high school, friends, self-absorption, activities and other meaningless entertainment are utilized to drown out the cry. As you can clearly see, we must begin modeling this compassion at an early age in order for it to take effect.
If we ignite a fire in the hearts of the next generation to prevent them from becoming apathetic, ignorant and numb to the plight of orphans, we will accomplish great strides in instilling God’s heart & compassion for all his children. Gods most basic commandments are at the heart of orphan care.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul with all your mind, with all your strength AND Love your neighbor as yourself.
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As Orphan Sunday is being celebrated this Sunday at many churches all across the country please pray for people to rise up and get that stirring in their heart. Not all orphan care is about adoption & foster care. Sometimes your part may look different but it will accomplish a common goal.

~ Just being a consistent person in a child's unstable life is a huge contribution.
~ Supporting a child in a 3rd world country where they can stay with the family that loves them is substantial.
~ Filling a shoebox for Samaritan's purse is an awesome gift to an orphan to show them the love of Christ.
~Being a cheerleader for those that are in the process or have adopted is an imperative part of the re-integration.
~Taking mission trips to orphanages in foreign countries is a way of seeking to comfort the many orphans.

If you want to remain apathetic & unaffected by the plight of God's forgotten kids that is between you and the Lord. There isn't much God can do with a hard heart. On the contrary,
God can do anything with a soft and moldable heart. He is the only one who knows how you are to play apart in orphan care IF you are willing to serve! However, He is a gentleman and will not demand you to do anything that you are grudgeful about or unwilling to do.