Sunday, February 12, 2012
countdown to taiwan!
we've been scrambling to get things in order, and it looks like we leave for taiwan on feb 16! we will arrive in taipei on the 17th, fly to taitung on the 18th to meet silas, hang out there and then fly back to taipei on the 22nd for our AIT appt on the 23rd. then, on the 24th, it's home sweet home!
we are taking M with us, which is exciting (we want him to see his birth country)and terrifying (he sleeps nowhere but his own bed, so we may have a miserably tired 5 yr old on our hands).
other plans include meeting silas' birth mother and nannies...attending church in taitung...and giving a presentation on human trafficking!
prayers appreciated!!!
we are taking M with us, which is exciting (we want him to see his birth country)and terrifying (he sleeps nowhere but his own bed, so we may have a miserably tired 5 yr old on our hands).
other plans include meeting silas' birth mother and nannies...attending church in taitung...and giving a presentation on human trafficking!
prayers appreciated!!!
Monday, January 9, 2012
officially a family of 4
rec'd a text at 4am this morning...silas is now officially ours! we hope to travel at the end of february as everything shuts down in taiwan for CNY.
while i'm crazy excited that this little guy is now part of our family, my biggest hope if for him to be part of God's family. i've already started a prayer journal for him, as i have for M, and i am grateful for the privilege of praying for this child...that he will adore and treasure Christ.
jenna asked if i was resurrecting my blog (i have been away for so long...busy with our anti-human trafficking org), so i am not really sure. blogging became a time-sucking idol for me, and yet i remember how invaluable i found blogs as a pre-adoptive parent...so...as the Lord leads!
oh, be sure to check out jenna's blog...she gives away stuff. cha ching!
while i'm crazy excited that this little guy is now part of our family, my biggest hope if for him to be part of God's family. i've already started a prayer journal for him, as i have for M, and i am grateful for the privilege of praying for this child...that he will adore and treasure Christ.
jenna asked if i was resurrecting my blog (i have been away for so long...busy with our anti-human trafficking org), so i am not really sure. blogging became a time-sucking idol for me, and yet i remember how invaluable i found blogs as a pre-adoptive parent...so...as the Lord leads!
oh, be sure to check out jenna's blog...she gives away stuff. cha ching!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
adopting again!
after some twists and turns and lots of waiting, we are preparing to bring home our second son from taiwan. we are waiting on the final ruling so that we can get an AIT appt and go pick up that little punk!
trying to wrap my brain around diapers and bottles and sleepless nights again....eeeeeee!
trying to wrap my brain around diapers and bottles and sleepless nights again....eeeeeee!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
yes, i still have a son...and a new post on the private blog!
OK, I know this has pretty much turned into an anti-trafficking blog, but actually i don't spend AS MUCH time on the issue as it may appear by my posts. A good amount of time, yes, but I have been really trying to keep it in check...asking GOd not to let me be diverted from my first ministry, my family. And thankfully, thankfully, thankGODfully, M has been napping like a champ lately...so it helps to balance things.
So...there is a new post on the private blog...and photos (although only 3 are of M as I've been trying to give him a little break from the hard life of modeling...and now my camera is in the fix-it shop!
I honestly miss checking in on blogs...seeing what you all are up to...and I hope those of you whose blogs I've followed will know that (I say this genuinely and sincerely) I think of you often!!!
New blog post on PRIVATE BLOG.
So...there is a new post on the private blog...and photos (although only 3 are of M as I've been trying to give him a little break from the hard life of modeling...and now my camera is in the fix-it shop!
I honestly miss checking in on blogs...seeing what you all are up to...and I hope those of you whose blogs I've followed will know that (I say this genuinely and sincerely) I think of you often!!!
New blog post on PRIVATE BLOG.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Vegas UPdate
Here is an update letter I sent to my email buds who were praying for the trip, but I know that many of my blog readers were praying, too, so wanted to share here, as well.
I wanted to send an update of the Vegas event and a note of gratitude for your prayers! Both Terri and I were blessed by the experience and feel it was a confirmation that we are moving in the right direction...God's direction.
THE BAD
- we totally got taken by our taxi driver and ended up paying double what we expected to pay (based on info from both the web and our hotel). the quote was, "i could see our hotel from the airport...why can't i see it now????"
- we totally got taken by our hotel when our room was not ready (and would not be ready for another 2 hours)..but we could take a smoking room or pay extra $ for an upgraded room that was ready. the quote was, "what do we expect? we're in sin city!"
- we got to the rally location, i pulled out my camera only to find that my lens had busted....my $300-most-favorite-shoot-with-all-the-time lens. the quote was, "bummer" as now photography will be put on hold for awhile!
- we did not march down the strip but instead planted ourselves at a busy intersection of the strip. this was actually probably a better situation because we were able to talk to the people stopped at the traffic lights...but we were hoping to witness some action taking place just to understand what it looks like...what to look for.
- the event drew fewer people than expected
- i accidentally took full strength dramamine instead of less-drowsy...i was a total ZOMBIE.
THE GOOD
- prior to the rally terri and i discussed many questions we had about various topics, and they were answered so clearly in both the rally speeches and in one-on-one conversations with random people we met. lots of "ah-ha!" moments
- God gave us great favor with the Shared Hope staff, including the founder and her husband, and we feel like this relationship will be vital for our future plans. they even invited us to dinner after the rally! we still aren't 100% certain that we will become official SHI advocates (only because we might then have to get every move approved before we act), but SHI does come alongside and support existing local orgs, so that might be an option.
- important connections were made with people, both individuals and organizations, who have been working against trafficking and can serve as mentors for us as we move forward.
- we met a trafficking survivor who is now running a safe home for victims in DC. it was invaluable to hear firsthand information about the physical and mental brutality that victims endure, and her words made an impact on our hearts and, more importantly, a shift in our perspectives.
- one very specific prayer i prayed was that, during the march, a big gust of wind would come and blow flyers everywhere...just to get them into the hands of people whom we would not see that night. shortly after i made my way to one corner of the intersection, the wind blew and a young woman's flyers went flying across the parking lot. she turned around to go after them and i squealed, "no! i prayed for that! let them blow!"
- the event received GREAT media attention
THE UGLY
- we ate dinner with the SHI staff at PF CHang's in Planet Hollywood. you know i had those amazing banana spring rolls...yeah, baby! anyway, as we waited in valet for our car, i noticed a young girl walking toward us. she could not have been more than 15 and yet here she was, all alone, dressed in a short dress and ridiculously high heels. her blonde hair was tousled and her skin pasty white. she looked sad...and vacant. not the vacant look of drug use...but just vacant. as she got closer to us i smiled at her...and she half-heartedly smiled in return...then she walked past us. was she a prostituted child? was she a victim of trafficking? i cannot say for certain but felt in my heart it was true. and it was hard not to run after her, hard not to ask her if she was OK...but even harder to know that i DIDN'T do those things. to think of what that girl may have just come from or may have been going to breaks my heart but fuels me to move forward in this fight for lost innocence.
THE FUTURE
- we have much to pray about and discuss and consider. we have people to contact and research to gather. we have friends and family to inform, money to raise, and decisions to make. most importantly, we have a God to seek. and as we make HIM our priority, He will make the rest happen. He will.
- if you would like to be on an email list to receive updates and prayer requests, please respond to this email and indicate "UPDATE/PRAYER LIST." if you would like to participate by taking action in the hands-on tasks, please respond to this email and indicate "TO-DO LIST". To-do list peeps will also receive prayer requests and updates.
- again, we thank you for your prayers!!! please take a moment now to thank and praise God for answering them!!! terri and i were richly blessed by His grace and love during our trip!
i apologize for my rotten typing in this email...two full strength dramamine in less than 24 hours has taken its toll on me!
MUCH love to you!!!!
tish & terri
I wanted to send an update of the Vegas event and a note of gratitude for your prayers! Both Terri and I were blessed by the experience and feel it was a confirmation that we are moving in the right direction...God's direction.
THE BAD
- we totally got taken by our taxi driver and ended up paying double what we expected to pay (based on info from both the web and our hotel). the quote was, "i could see our hotel from the airport...why can't i see it now????"
- we totally got taken by our hotel when our room was not ready (and would not be ready for another 2 hours)..but we could take a smoking room or pay extra $ for an upgraded room that was ready. the quote was, "what do we expect? we're in sin city!"
- we got to the rally location, i pulled out my camera only to find that my lens had busted....my $300-most-favorite-shoot-with-all-the-time lens. the quote was, "bummer" as now photography will be put on hold for awhile!
- we did not march down the strip but instead planted ourselves at a busy intersection of the strip. this was actually probably a better situation because we were able to talk to the people stopped at the traffic lights...but we were hoping to witness some action taking place just to understand what it looks like...what to look for.
- the event drew fewer people than expected
- i accidentally took full strength dramamine instead of less-drowsy...i was a total ZOMBIE.
THE GOOD
- prior to the rally terri and i discussed many questions we had about various topics, and they were answered so clearly in both the rally speeches and in one-on-one conversations with random people we met. lots of "ah-ha!" moments
- God gave us great favor with the Shared Hope staff, including the founder and her husband, and we feel like this relationship will be vital for our future plans. they even invited us to dinner after the rally! we still aren't 100% certain that we will become official SHI advocates (only because we might then have to get every move approved before we act), but SHI does come alongside and support existing local orgs, so that might be an option.
- important connections were made with people, both individuals and organizations, who have been working against trafficking and can serve as mentors for us as we move forward.
- we met a trafficking survivor who is now running a safe home for victims in DC. it was invaluable to hear firsthand information about the physical and mental brutality that victims endure, and her words made an impact on our hearts and, more importantly, a shift in our perspectives.
- one very specific prayer i prayed was that, during the march, a big gust of wind would come and blow flyers everywhere...just to get them into the hands of people whom we would not see that night. shortly after i made my way to one corner of the intersection, the wind blew and a young woman's flyers went flying across the parking lot. she turned around to go after them and i squealed, "no! i prayed for that! let them blow!"
- the event received GREAT media attention
THE UGLY
- we ate dinner with the SHI staff at PF CHang's in Planet Hollywood. you know i had those amazing banana spring rolls...yeah, baby! anyway, as we waited in valet for our car, i noticed a young girl walking toward us. she could not have been more than 15 and yet here she was, all alone, dressed in a short dress and ridiculously high heels. her blonde hair was tousled and her skin pasty white. she looked sad...and vacant. not the vacant look of drug use...but just vacant. as she got closer to us i smiled at her...and she half-heartedly smiled in return...then she walked past us. was she a prostituted child? was she a victim of trafficking? i cannot say for certain but felt in my heart it was true. and it was hard not to run after her, hard not to ask her if she was OK...but even harder to know that i DIDN'T do those things. to think of what that girl may have just come from or may have been going to breaks my heart but fuels me to move forward in this fight for lost innocence.
THE FUTURE
- we have much to pray about and discuss and consider. we have people to contact and research to gather. we have friends and family to inform, money to raise, and decisions to make. most importantly, we have a God to seek. and as we make HIM our priority, He will make the rest happen. He will.
- if you would like to be on an email list to receive updates and prayer requests, please respond to this email and indicate "UPDATE/PRAYER LIST." if you would like to participate by taking action in the hands-on tasks, please respond to this email and indicate "TO-DO LIST". To-do list peeps will also receive prayer requests and updates.
- again, we thank you for your prayers!!! please take a moment now to thank and praise God for answering them!!! terri and i were richly blessed by His grace and love during our trip!
i apologize for my rotten typing in this email...two full strength dramamine in less than 24 hours has taken its toll on me!
MUCH love to you!!!!
tish & terri
Thursday, June 11, 2009
stuff of no real importance
took this pic with my cell phone the other day. i actually have a few other pics of M to post but time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin' into the future! leave for trafficking event in vegas tomorrow and doors are really opening here, too. like faster than i can say "i'll take door number 2, please!" seems as if i'm walking on a treadmill and God just switched the speed to SUPAH FAST! thankfully, He has raised up an army of fab chicas with a heart for this issue of human trafficking...so it is unbelievably exciting to see what God is doing/will do.
i've decided M is going to be a lawyer...he has the gift of arguing a point and the tenacity to see his argument to the bitter end. i would say it was cute if i wasn't living the effects of it right now. sadly...and i know toddlers say random things...the other day he told me he wasn't in our family. i asked whose family he thought he was in and he said "nobody." so i just reminded him he was part of our family and sang a song about it...but, even if it was just a toddler thing, it made my heart sad.
though he really doens;t have much interest at this time, M did actually go on his little toilet and squealed in surprise, "it's so funny!!!!"
hope your week is beautiful and blessed!
edited2add...it's been so long since i have blogged that i posted this and then thought, "oh, yeah, i have a private blog, too!"
i've decided M is going to be a lawyer...he has the gift of arguing a point and the tenacity to see his argument to the bitter end. i would say it was cute if i wasn't living the effects of it right now. sadly...and i know toddlers say random things...the other day he told me he wasn't in our family. i asked whose family he thought he was in and he said "nobody." so i just reminded him he was part of our family and sang a song about it...but, even if it was just a toddler thing, it made my heart sad.
though he really doens;t have much interest at this time, M did actually go on his little toilet and squealed in surprise, "it's so funny!!!!"
hope your week is beautiful and blessed!
edited2add...it's been so long since i have blogged that i posted this and then thought, "oh, yeah, i have a private blog, too!"
Thursday, June 4, 2009
falling in love through photographs
One of the things I have loved best about blogging is checking out other bloggers' photos. Seeing a mama's expression as she holds her child for the first time...or the look on a little boy's face when he is "caught in the act"...or a beaming smile from a tiny girl as she runs through the sprinklers for the first time...I fall in love through photographs.
I want to share some photos with you. They are not photos which, by nature, would invoke our human love. No, to truly fall in love with these subjects calls for a love much greater than our own.
May you fall in love...with the love that only God can give for the broken, the weary, the downtrodden...through these photographs.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16
I want to share some photos with you. They are not photos which, by nature, would invoke our human love. No, to truly fall in love with these subjects calls for a love much greater than our own.
May you fall in love...with the love that only God can give for the broken, the weary, the downtrodden...through these photographs.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16
Friday, May 29, 2009
give-UH-way!
The Wild Olive Tees crew is have a sweeeeet giveaway!!! As in 75-bucks-worth-of-free-stuff sweet! Check out entry rules HERE!
stuffed crust blogpost
Some updates:
Human Trafficking - had my awareness event last night, and God blessed me with some AWESOME guests! SO cool to see how God might use their unique interests, gifts, and connections to bring light to this dark issue. If you are interested in learning more but don't have time to do research, I would be happy to share my powerpoint with you. It touches on trafficking in general then zooms in on trafficking to meet the growing demands of the commercial sex industry. Just email me at 1sttimemama1 AT gmail DOT com.
Cool thing...while I was preparing for this event, my half-hour napper suddenly became a TWO-HOUR NAPPER! Shout out! What a blessing!
OOPS! - OK, awhile back I got Lightroom for editing photos and did so through what I thought to be a completely legal manner. As I was recently trying to transfer the LR to another computer since our old one bit the dust, I found out that it was NOT legal! Talk about feeling HORRIBLE!!!! Yes, I could go on using the LR and no one would ever know...but I know. And God knows. And I do not want to sin against my good God. So....I went crawling back to picnik with my jpegs yesterday....and it was like trying to perform open heart surgery with a grapefruit spoon. Here are some of the pics:
Scott informed me the other day that he is taking a pledge not to watch any shows that don't have a laugh track. Whaaaaat?
Lil' M asked "what is mama's name?" I said, "mama." He was not satisfied and asked the question again, so I responded, "Mama's name is Tish, but what do you call me?" He stated, "Babes!" Matthew calls mama "babes" like daddy."
I've missed you guys, so I will try to check out all your new blog posts this afternoon!!!! Can't wait to see what is going on in your lives!!!
Human Trafficking - had my awareness event last night, and God blessed me with some AWESOME guests! SO cool to see how God might use their unique interests, gifts, and connections to bring light to this dark issue. If you are interested in learning more but don't have time to do research, I would be happy to share my powerpoint with you. It touches on trafficking in general then zooms in on trafficking to meet the growing demands of the commercial sex industry. Just email me at 1sttimemama1 AT gmail DOT com.
Cool thing...while I was preparing for this event, my half-hour napper suddenly became a TWO-HOUR NAPPER! Shout out! What a blessing!
OOPS! - OK, awhile back I got Lightroom for editing photos and did so through what I thought to be a completely legal manner. As I was recently trying to transfer the LR to another computer since our old one bit the dust, I found out that it was NOT legal! Talk about feeling HORRIBLE!!!! Yes, I could go on using the LR and no one would ever know...but I know. And God knows. And I do not want to sin against my good God. So....I went crawling back to picnik with my jpegs yesterday....and it was like trying to perform open heart surgery with a grapefruit spoon. Here are some of the pics:
Scott informed me the other day that he is taking a pledge not to watch any shows that don't have a laugh track. Whaaaaat?
Lil' M asked "what is mama's name?" I said, "mama." He was not satisfied and asked the question again, so I responded, "Mama's name is Tish, but what do you call me?" He stated, "Babes!" Matthew calls mama "babes" like daddy."
I've missed you guys, so I will try to check out all your new blog posts this afternoon!!!! Can't wait to see what is going on in your lives!!!
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
could he be any cuter?
not sure why M decided to wear my t-shirt as a head covering...with one arm in an arm hole and the other out...but, as he would say, "it's alright and OK!"Tuesday, May 19, 2009
website recommendations
In a little over a week my friend, Terri, and I will be hosting a Human Trafficking Awareness Event! I am super stoked and have been giving my powerpoint program lots of lovin'. Terri is also going to be my travel companion in June when I head to Vegas for an anti-trafficking event! God has been orchestrating some cool stuff...so cool that I might have to write a rap song about it just for you, Jenna!
Anyway, I have some info I thought I would share for any who are interested:
TRAFFICKING WEBSITES:
TO LEARN MORE:
www.Sharedhope.org - focuses on the prevention, rescue and restoration of the victims of sex slavery. One of the few organizations which address the issue of demand.
http://www.lifeimpactintl.org/ - focuses on evangelism and humanitarian aid to child slaves at the Thailand/Burma border.
http://kimberlydaniels.theworldrace.org/ - focuses on ministering to the prostitutes in Thailand bars, providing outreach and directing the girls to safe homeshavens.
www.love146.org - focuses on child sex slavery and offers training in aftercare.
http://stopchildslavery.com/ - focuses on providing a central location for news articles and organization information.
http://www.globalcenturion.org/ - focuses on ending demand in order to stop the sexual exploitation of children.
http://www.fbi.gov/innolost/innolost.htm - Federal Government's Innocence Lost National Initiative
TO DISCOVER UNIQUE WAYS TO HELP:
http://www.stopthetraffik.org/getinvolved/ideas/yourideas.aspx - shares stories of people who have found creative ways to bring awareness to trafficking
http://www.love146.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21462 - offers 146 ideas to help
TO CONSUME WITH COMPASSION:
http://www.betterworldshopper.com/
http://www.transfairusa.org/
http://www.madebysurvivors.com/
http://chainstorereaction.com/
So, there you have it...now go get your mouseclick on!
Anyway, I have some info I thought I would share for any who are interested:
TRAFFICKING WEBSITES:
TO LEARN MORE:
www.Sharedhope.org - focuses on the prevention, rescue and restoration of the victims of sex slavery. One of the few organizations which address the issue of demand.
http://www.lifeimpactintl.org/ - focuses on evangelism and humanitarian aid to child slaves at the Thailand/Burma border.
http://kimberlydaniels.theworldrace.org/ - focuses on ministering to the prostitutes in Thailand bars, providing outreach and directing the girls to safe homeshavens.
www.love146.org - focuses on child sex slavery and offers training in aftercare.
http://stopchildslavery.com/ - focuses on providing a central location for news articles and organization information.
http://www.globalcenturion.org/ - focuses on ending demand in order to stop the sexual exploitation of children.
http://www.fbi.gov/innolost/innolost.htm - Federal Government's Innocence Lost National Initiative
TO DISCOVER UNIQUE WAYS TO HELP:
http://www.stopthetraffik.org/getinvolved/ideas/yourideas.aspx - shares stories of people who have found creative ways to bring awareness to trafficking
http://www.love146.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=21462 - offers 146 ideas to help
TO CONSUME WITH COMPASSION:
http://www.betterworldshopper.com/
http://www.transfairusa.org/
http://www.madebysurvivors.com/
http://chainstorereaction.com/
So, there you have it...now go get your mouseclick on!
the company you keep...
I received the following email from my friend "C" today. The amazing thing is that these words reflect the desire of her heart ALL.THE.TIME. When you surround yourself with people like C, you find yourself standing very close in hopes that all that fabulousness will rub off on you!
Hope you will join me in praise...
May our lives reflect Christ. May worship and praise of our precious Lord never cease and may we always be grateful and praise Him for His salvation and His completed work on the cross. Praise Him for the life that He gives us and every test and trial that He knows will make us stronger in Him and more useable for Kingdom work. Praise Him for His tender mercies that endure forever. Praise Him that He has given one more day to shine His glory into the darkness.
Praise Him for the privilege of prayer and for you all - His body -- who stand faithfully in the gap for the weak, the weary and the wounded every single day. Thank you for the light that shines so brightly in and through each and every one of you. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
And praise God for friends who direct my eyes to Him!
Hope you will join me in praise...
May our lives reflect Christ. May worship and praise of our precious Lord never cease and may we always be grateful and praise Him for His salvation and His completed work on the cross. Praise Him for the life that He gives us and every test and trial that He knows will make us stronger in Him and more useable for Kingdom work. Praise Him for His tender mercies that endure forever. Praise Him that He has given one more day to shine His glory into the darkness.
Praise Him for the privilege of prayer and for you all - His body -- who stand faithfully in the gap for the weak, the weary and the wounded every single day. Thank you for the light that shines so brightly in and through each and every one of you. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
And praise God for friends who direct my eyes to Him!
Friday, May 15, 2009
i like big posts and i cannot lie
if you make it all the way to the end of this post, you must be pretty bored.
PRAYING FOR KIDS
I was asked a question awhile back about praying for children, which is funny since I feel like I am a lousy pray-er, but here goes. Note: These are just my own personal thoughts and what works for me.
I like to pray Scripture for M. Mostly because I don't want my human desires (or frustrations) to color my intercessions for him. So, when I am reading my Bible and a verse sticks out to me, I will pray it for my little guy. For ex, Ephesians 1:18 says "the eyes of your understanding being enlightened..." and that has become a verse I pray almost daily. I may change the words, such as "Lord, please open M's mind to understand your truth," but I feel like if I pray God's Words, then I know my desires are aligned with His.
I keep a journal by my bed in which I write prayers for M. I do not write in it daily, or even weekly, even though I pray for him daily. I simply write as I feel led to pray about specific topics. I will give it to him when he is grown and look forward to seeing how God answered the prayers of this mama.
I pray a lot with M whether it be for other people or for him...or even for me when I am cracking under the pressure of the terrible twos! And now he will often initiate prayer...asking me to pray for him or for someone else. Does he understand? I can't even guess as to what he thinks is going on, but what I want him to see is a mama who loves God and who believes He is a God who loves talking with His children. I try to point out when God answers our prayers...and to share Bible stories that do the same.
Would love to hear if anyone else has ideas to share!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I DIDN'T SCREW IT UP!
Tried out PW's ginger steak salad tonight and it rocked my taste buds. I had never-as-in-ever bought ginger before...besides ginger snaps, of course...so I was freaky nervous going into this thing. Told myself that if it flopped, I would never-ever-ever try another new recipe again.
But PW did not disappoint! Scott even had seconds, which says a lot because he really doesn't trust salad. But this stuff is gooooood...so good I might eat it for breakfast tomorrow.
Note: I cooked my steak longer than the recipe calls for because I come from a long line of cook-it-til-it's-jerky women.
________________________________________________
NINE
That's the # of sentences in the 2nd chapter of the Epistle to the Ephesians.
And in just nine sentences, you find the ultimate "before and after." It's like a snapshot of a person before and after Christ...a "you WERE" versus "you ARE."
So I made lists. Because lists make my brain happy. Almost as happy as ginger steak salad makes my tongue. And this is what God says...
You WERE
- dead in trespasses and sins
- walking according to the prince of the power of the air
- a son of disobedience
- conducting yourself in the lusts of your flesh
- fulfilling the desires of the flesh & mind
- a child of wrath
- without Christ
- strangers from the covenants of the promise
- having no hope
- far off
Enter Jesus.
You ARE
- alive together with Christ
- saved
- raised, made to sit in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus
- His workmanship
- created in Christ Jesus for good works
- brought near by the blood of Christ
- reconciled to God
- having access to the Father
- fellow citizens of the household of God
- a dwelling place of God in the Spirit
Pretty amazing, huh? But another cool thing is this...there is a word that can be placed on BOTH lists. Yep, both. It's found in verses 4 & 5a:
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses..
PRAYING FOR KIDS
I was asked a question awhile back about praying for children, which is funny since I feel like I am a lousy pray-er, but here goes. Note: These are just my own personal thoughts and what works for me.
I like to pray Scripture for M. Mostly because I don't want my human desires (or frustrations) to color my intercessions for him. So, when I am reading my Bible and a verse sticks out to me, I will pray it for my little guy. For ex, Ephesians 1:18 says "the eyes of your understanding being enlightened..." and that has become a verse I pray almost daily. I may change the words, such as "Lord, please open M's mind to understand your truth," but I feel like if I pray God's Words, then I know my desires are aligned with His.
I keep a journal by my bed in which I write prayers for M. I do not write in it daily, or even weekly, even though I pray for him daily. I simply write as I feel led to pray about specific topics. I will give it to him when he is grown and look forward to seeing how God answered the prayers of this mama.
I pray a lot with M whether it be for other people or for him...or even for me when I am cracking under the pressure of the terrible twos! And now he will often initiate prayer...asking me to pray for him or for someone else. Does he understand? I can't even guess as to what he thinks is going on, but what I want him to see is a mama who loves God and who believes He is a God who loves talking with His children. I try to point out when God answers our prayers...and to share Bible stories that do the same.
Would love to hear if anyone else has ideas to share!
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I DIDN'T SCREW IT UP!
Tried out PW's ginger steak salad tonight and it rocked my taste buds. I had never-as-in-ever bought ginger before...besides ginger snaps, of course...so I was freaky nervous going into this thing. Told myself that if it flopped, I would never-ever-ever try another new recipe again.
But PW did not disappoint! Scott even had seconds, which says a lot because he really doesn't trust salad. But this stuff is gooooood...so good I might eat it for breakfast tomorrow.
Note: I cooked my steak longer than the recipe calls for because I come from a long line of cook-it-til-it's-jerky women.
________________________________________________
NINE
That's the # of sentences in the 2nd chapter of the Epistle to the Ephesians.
And in just nine sentences, you find the ultimate "before and after." It's like a snapshot of a person before and after Christ...a "you WERE" versus "you ARE."
So I made lists. Because lists make my brain happy. Almost as happy as ginger steak salad makes my tongue. And this is what God says...
You WERE
- dead in trespasses and sins
- walking according to the prince of the power of the air
- a son of disobedience
- conducting yourself in the lusts of your flesh
- fulfilling the desires of the flesh & mind
- a child of wrath
- without Christ
- strangers from the covenants of the promise
- having no hope
- far off
Enter Jesus.
You ARE
- alive together with Christ
- saved
- raised, made to sit in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus
- His workmanship
- created in Christ Jesus for good works
- brought near by the blood of Christ
- reconciled to God
- having access to the Father
- fellow citizens of the household of God
- a dwelling place of God in the Spirit
Pretty amazing, huh? But another cool thing is this...there is a word that can be placed on BOTH lists. Yep, both. It's found in verses 4 & 5a:
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses..
Love.
This passage not only tells us that, even when we were living according to our own lusts and in disobedience to God, He still loved us...but that He loved us with a GREAT love. One of the definitions I found for the original word used for "great" was TOO MUCH. As I consider God's love for me, a wretched sinner, "too much" sounds pretty right on.
One of the reasons I love this chapter so much right now is that, in my human trafficking research, it can be easy to feel anger and hatred toward the oppressors, the abusers, the traffickers...but God's love for them is slowly filling my heart. I loathe what these people are doing but am reminded that they are no more free than the women and children they enslave...for they are slaves to their sin. Just as I was.
This is what the love of God can do in a life...
before Christ:
after Christ:
We look at these photos and focus on the outward transformation of Anthea...but the real change for her, and for all of us, is the inward transformation that comes only through Jesus. This is the work of love. This is the look of love.
God is love, and I want to be love, too.
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NEW POST ON PRIVATE BLOG
Thursday, May 7, 2009
life in bullet points
no flowery stories; i'm rollin' with bullet points today. and no capitalization. just gettin'-my-hurry-on...which i am sure that many of you will appreciate!
- rec'd an out-of-the-blue email from a friend (we hadn't talked in quite awhile) telling me all about SHI! when she came in contact with this org, she decided to share it with me. i responded a la francis chan with, "NOOOO WAAAAY!"
- met with friend to discuss and said, "let's rock and roll!"
- started researching human trafficking...and praying for God's guidance
- discovered lots of organizations but kept coming back to SHI
- despite the NUMEROUS needs in this issue, i began to feel led to focus on "ending the demand"...raising awareness about the connection between the commercial sex industry and the trafficking of human beings to meet the escalating demands of that industry
- shared this feeling with a SHI employee...who then passed on my contact info to another staff member who is heading up a national awareness campaign to END DEMAND which will kick off in june
- plan to host an awareness event in conjunction with SHI during the last week of may and, Lord willing, might join them in Vegasbaby for their kickoff event
also, CHOCOLATE:
- children abducted and forced to serve as slaves on cocoa plantations, particularly in the ivory coast
- previously i CHOSE to ignore it because the thought of modern day slavery seemed unreal, i figured US companies would be regulated for such things, and, well, i like chocolate. seriously, i have days where about 50% (ok, maybe more) of my daily intake is chocolate, but i watched a video interview of a young man who was a slave on a cocoa plantation. as he spoke of the atrocities against him, he stated that to eat of his plantation's chocolate was to eat of his own flesh. Gulp. Guuuuulp.
- i've been buying only slave free chocolate...which is understandably more expensive...which means I am not buying much chocolate these days...which means i go into convulsions every hour or so...but the bruises are healing nicely...kidding!!!
- sites for you to check out chocolate: #1, #2, #3 (#3 is betterworldshopper so you can check out other products, too)
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
- check out Shared Hope Int
- host an awareness event (if interested, let me know and i'll direct you further)
- pray for the END DEMAND campaign to receive national media attention that will cause big changes in the hearts and lives of Americans
- kick your M&Ms to the curb and buy divine
more to share later...right now i have a date with my Bible. happy weekend, everyone...and happy mama's day to all my precious mama friends!
WHATSA HAPPENIN' W/HUMAN TRAFFICKIN':
- an interest in human trafficking was sparked in my heart after hearing a radio interview with Linda Smith, founder of Shared Hope Int.
- checked out SHI and requested more info- rec'd an out-of-the-blue email from a friend (we hadn't talked in quite awhile) telling me all about SHI! when she came in contact with this org, she decided to share it with me. i responded a la francis chan with, "NOOOO WAAAAY!"
- met with friend to discuss and said, "let's rock and roll!"
- started researching human trafficking...and praying for God's guidance
- discovered lots of organizations but kept coming back to SHI
- despite the NUMEROUS needs in this issue, i began to feel led to focus on "ending the demand"...raising awareness about the connection between the commercial sex industry and the trafficking of human beings to meet the escalating demands of that industry
- shared this feeling with a SHI employee...who then passed on my contact info to another staff member who is heading up a national awareness campaign to END DEMAND which will kick off in june
- plan to host an awareness event in conjunction with SHI during the last week of may and, Lord willing, might join them in Vegasbaby for their kickoff event
During all of this, God's Word has been filling my mind.....verses like:
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose [them]. Eph 5:11
Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, "Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the LORD will work for us. For nothing restrains the LORD from saving by many or by few." 1 Sam 14:6
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Eph 2:10
Arise, O LORD! O God, lift up Your hand! Do not forget the humble....LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear, To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, That the man of the earth may oppress no more. Psalm 10:12, 17-18
also, CHOCOLATE:
- children abducted and forced to serve as slaves on cocoa plantations, particularly in the ivory coast
- previously i CHOSE to ignore it because the thought of modern day slavery seemed unreal, i figured US companies would be regulated for such things, and, well, i like chocolate. seriously, i have days where about 50% (ok, maybe more) of my daily intake is chocolate, but i watched a video interview of a young man who was a slave on a cocoa plantation. as he spoke of the atrocities against him, he stated that to eat of his plantation's chocolate was to eat of his own flesh. Gulp. Guuuuulp.
- i've been buying only slave free chocolate...which is understandably more expensive...which means I am not buying much chocolate these days...which means i go into convulsions every hour or so...but the bruises are healing nicely...kidding!!!
- sites for you to check out chocolate: #1, #2, #3 (#3 is betterworldshopper so you can check out other products, too)
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
- check out Shared Hope Int
- host an awareness event (if interested, let me know and i'll direct you further)
- pray for the END DEMAND campaign to receive national media attention that will cause big changes in the hearts and lives of Americans
- kick your M&Ms to the curb and buy divine
more to share later...right now i have a date with my Bible. happy weekend, everyone...and happy mama's day to all my precious mama friends!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
alive and kickin'
We are still here! Absent by choice. Thanks for the concerned emails! The motherboard on our laptop fried the other day, which makes "checking in" on your blogs more difficult...since M despises being in our office where the PC is located. Plus our PC is super slow because I have a billion photos on it...yet I can't get in here to remove them. Did I mention that M despises being in our office? Yes, it's that ugly! Still...I'm kinda enjoying NOT having the laptop...especially at night!
I have photos to upload. And some stuff to share from Ephesians...I just cannot pull myself away from it! M seems to be growing like a weed...and is still in the deep end of TWO. The rollercoaster of emotions is exhausting...the demanding, the disobedience, the drama...we're all ready for bed right after dinner!
Will try to catch up soon!
I have photos to upload. And some stuff to share from Ephesians...I just cannot pull myself away from it! M seems to be growing like a weed...and is still in the deep end of TWO. The rollercoaster of emotions is exhausting...the demanding, the disobedience, the drama...we're all ready for bed right after dinner!
Will try to catch up soon!
Monday, April 27, 2009
is this the cure for a sleepless child???
I haven't been blogging...or visiting blogs...very much lately because I have been using M's naptime to to pray and read my Bible. For some reason even when I have a quiet time in the morning, I crave it again in the afternoon. And it's been good. Ephesians is rockin' my world!
But the funny thing about it is that, since I started doing this, M HAS BEEN TAKING LONGER NAPS!!!!!!!
Not even kidding.
Can't wait to visit your blogs and see what's been going on in your lives!!!!!
But the funny thing about it is that, since I started doing this, M HAS BEEN TAKING LONGER NAPS!!!!!!!
Not even kidding.
Can't wait to visit your blogs and see what's been going on in your lives!!!!!
Sunday, April 26, 2009
and they're off!
edited2add: Sorry, but I only have time to give you one link right now. Click here to read Angie's latest post, "Name."
Compassion International has selected five bloggers to travel to India, and you are invited to join in the adventure! Each blogger, as well as other trip members, will be documenting their experiences via the internet.
Here are links to follow along during the April 26 - May 2 trip:
- http://www.compassionbloggers.com/india - A snippet of every post, every pic and video will be uploaded to this page.
- http://feeds2.feedburner.com/compassionbloggers This is the link to the trip's RSS feed. Subscribing to the feed will send a snippet of every post from every blogger to your RSS reader.
If you'd prefer to follow the trip by visiting each blog here are their addresses:
Bloggers:
Pete Wilson - http://www.withoutwax.tv
Melissa Fitzpatrick - http://livingproofministries.blogspot.com
Angela Smith - http://www.audreycaroline.blogspot.com
Robin Dance - http://www.pensieve.typepad.com
Photography:
Keely Scott - http://www.keelymariescott.com
Videography:
Anne Jackson - http://www.flowerdust.net
Leaders:
Spence Smith - http://www.spencesmith.com
Patricia Jones - http://jonesbones5.com
Shaun Groves - http://www.shaungroves.com/shlog
OOPS! Sorry these aren't showing up as links...will haveto adjust later because right now I must attend to a hungry little boy!
Compassion International has selected five bloggers to travel to India, and you are invited to join in the adventure! Each blogger, as well as other trip members, will be documenting their experiences via the internet.
Here are links to follow along during the April 26 - May 2 trip:
- http://www.compassionbloggers.com/india - A snippet of every post, every pic and video will be uploaded to this page.
- http://feeds2.feedburner.com/compassionbloggers This is the link to the trip's RSS feed. Subscribing to the feed will send a snippet of every post from every blogger to your RSS reader.
If you'd prefer to follow the trip by visiting each blog here are their addresses:
Bloggers:
Pete Wilson - http://www.withoutwax.tv
Melissa Fitzpatrick - http://livingproofministries.blogspot.com
Angela Smith - http://www.audreycaroline.blogspot.com
Robin Dance - http://www.pensieve.typepad.com
Photography:
Keely Scott - http://www.keelymariescott.com
Videography:
Anne Jackson - http://www.flowerdust.net
Leaders:
Spence Smith - http://www.spencesmith.com
Patricia Jones - http://jonesbones5.com
Shaun Groves - http://www.shaungroves.com/shlog
OOPS! Sorry these aren't showing up as links...will haveto adjust later because right now I must attend to a hungry little boy!
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