We are still walking.
As we journey we hear His words encourage us onward...
Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. "See, all your angry enemies lie there, confused and humiliated. Anyone who opposes will die and come to nothing. You will look in vain for those who tried to conquer you. Those who attack you will come to nothing. For I hold you by the hand - I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, "Don't be afraid. I am here to help you." Isaiah 41:10-13
Although this adoption process has been difficult, we continue.
We pray for the boarders of Russia to once again be open to Americans, allowing us to continue in our pursuit to bring home a precious little girl who still waits.
We pray for a Ministry that has gone awry and turned from what is ethical and right in biblical standards.
We pray for all that has been stolen, not only from our family, but many others, to be restored unto them. We pray for Justice. Holy Justice.
We pray for the children. So many children. Those left waiting and wondering. Those abandon and unchosen. Those sold to the highest bidder as they leave behind the only home they know.
We have prayed that God would use us. Use our story. Use our weakness,
unworthiness and complete lack of ability. Use us to shine His strength, His worthiness and His Almighty power through us into the darkness that He may receive all the Glory.
As we have prayed, God has been busy. He has been preparing and equipping Bob and I for what He has called us to accomplish. He has been making a way. We are continuing on the path of bringing home 3 teenagers from Eastern Europe. We are scheduled to travel soon. All our documents are in order. Eastern Europe has recovered from both the multiple summer holidays causing staff shortage and the conflict and shortage regarding passports.
The facts remain...
Each year 14,050,000 children grow up as an orphan and age out of the system.
Every day 38,493 children age out, meaning they are 14-16 years of age, depending on country, and they are expected to live independently after being institutionalized for many years.
Every 2.2 seconds, another orphan child ages out, without a family to belong to or any place to call home.
In Eastern Europe10% commit suicide in the first year.
Many of these children accept job offers that ultimately result in them being sold as slaves. Millions of girls are sex slaves today, simply because they were unfortunate enough to grow up as orphans.
Knowing these facts, and believing our kinship with Christ calls us to go, we now ask, all those who call themselves our brothers and sisters in Christ, Every soul who claims the name of Jesus and proclaims Him Lord of their life, to rise up. To stand with us. To examine His Holy Word and think for yourself. To prayerfully consider our request. Our adoption fund is dreadfully short. We have teenagers waiting, hoping we are coming for them. We are their ONLY human kind hope for a future beyond the slavery, homelessness, and tragedy that awaits them without a forever family.
Jesus was clear when He addressed the divided crowd. In both Luke and Matthew the accounts are the same. The crowd that had been divided in purpose by Pharisees.
Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. Matthew 12:30
Anyone who isn't with me opposes me, and anyone who isn't working with me is actually working against me.
Luke 11:23
It may be addressed to the Pharisees, what their words really implied. They are not due, as some might think, to mere indifferentism or to a judicial neutrality; such a relation to him is impossible. They were due to the opposition of inner life and of outward energy. Thus their words denote complete separation from Him.
This, however, would attribute to the Pharisees too great an ignorance of their own feelings of opposition to Christ, and it is therefore best to understand the verse as addressed to the many bystanders. Christ has defended himself from the accusations brought against Him, and now urges these waverers not to be content with only opposing Him, but to take sides for , in fact, they cannot help doing so. Indifference is only another name for opposition in this circumstance; not actively to help, is to hinder.
God has reveled something to us on this journey. That in our personal efforts to give grace we need to ensure that we do not sit back and watch the innocent be harmed. With His Word our only resource for how to live out this life, we take Him seriously when He tells us in Isaiah..
Your kindness to the wicked does not make them do good. Although others do right, the wicked keep doing wrong and take no notice of the Lord's majesty. Isaiah 26:10
We understand how anyone can be fooled by those that chose to deceive and divide. We have been there, being deceived ourselves, in the past. It was only in turning to seek truth in the Spirit that the veil was lifted and things became clear.
2Cor 3:15-18
Yes, even today when they read Moses' writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand. But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had the veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. and the Lord, who is Spirit, makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. I know many have grown weary in the lengthiness of this journey. We too have felt weariness at times... but our trust in the Lord has continually renewed our strength and urged us onward.
As we now call on the Lord to meet us in our need... we offer an invitation to each of you. We are asking all to join us in a day of prayer, fasting and spiritual fellowship on behalf of our children who have waited so very long to come home. Understanding the biblical truth in Ecclesiastes 4 ... A person standing alone can be defeated, but 2 can stand back to back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. We believe there is power when God's people come together, in the Spirit, with Him and in purpose..
We have chosen that day to be Wed. Aug 21. "to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke" (Isaiah 58:5).
The number twenty-one represents a holy state because it is the product of seven and three multiplied by each other, and seven signifies what is holy, and so also does three.
We will continue to rest and be restored in Him. We will lift every desire, every thought, every concern, to Him for reproof and continue to find all we need in Him. We feely choose to honor Him, to love Him, to trust Him. to follow Him all the days of our earthly lives. Nehemiah 8 is ever present and at the for front of our minds and hearts..."The joy of the Lord is my strength!"
Blessed be the name of the Lord, now and forevermore. Whether we are in the darkness of the deepest valley, surrounded by enemy, under attack, or, atop the highest mountain surrounded with evidence of victory in hand, we will sing His praise and speak of His goodness.
Goodness evident in moments such as this....
and this...
and this...
and this...
Memories with family such as this...
and this...
Experiencing the parental love that
is lacking in their lives...
and this...
and this...
and this...
and this.
Learning how good it is to sit on grandma's lap.
Experiences and outings
with family like this...
and this...
Dad's secret fishing hole!
and this...
Berry picking so mama can bake pies!
And this...
Hanging out in the park!
And This...
Dad sharing hunting wisdom...
Birthday party with cousins..
Waterpark fun!!!
And this... garage sale find. getting a little TLC
and personalization to become a place to meditate...
Holding a brand new baby...
Or a little sister...
Oksana IS Lillian's absolute, hands down, favorite person!!
It feels good ... to work hard on the farm
Celebrating the birth of Jesus
surrounded by family...
and this...
and this...
Brother and Sisters...
Learning how good it is
to have an earthly daddy....
and sisters....
The hardest day ever....
Having to say goodbye and send her so far away, while she wept and pleaded with us to stay.
Heartbreaking for her. Heartbreaking for us.
April was so upset that day...she has prayed,
shook heaven, for Nana to return home to us DAILY.
None of these children were not chosen by our family. They were placed into our home by a good and gracious Heavenly Father who heard not only our "yes" to love those He called us to love... but the prayers of these children for a family to come for them.
Just as the journey has been long for us, the waiting has been almost unbearable for Nana. We have received numerous letters begging and pleading us to hurry, to come quickly and bring her home. Thankfully, that time is close at hand.
We raise hands to Heaven and praise the One who holds it all. Thank you Jesus, that in all the delays and misfortune you are there...
If I go to the Heavens, you are there; If I lie down in Sheol, there you are.
If I take the wings of dawn, and dwell beyond the sea. Even there your hand guides me, your right hand holds me fast. Psalms 139:8-10
As we go we can hear you... and we are not afraid.
Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
Please Join us,
Today, Aug 21
as we pray and fast on behalf of these children.
Fasting isn't your deal?
Praying and sharing this post on social media
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thank you
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. Isaiah 61:1
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