Dare to Be

Last night during worship at our youth group, I felt God speak to my heart."Dare to be the woman I have created you to be. Dare to follow the dreams I've placed in your heart." While this message was spoken directly to me, I began to ponder the bigger picture. What if the church dared to become who God has created them to be? What would the church look like? So many Christians are paralyzed by insecurities, fear of failure and guilt from the past. So many who call themselves Christians are sitting in churches, indifferent to a lost and dying world, going through the motions. God has called us to live a life full of vitality, generosity and confidence in Him. What would happen if we chased the dreams God has put in our hearts, so deep in our hearts that maybe we haven't even shared them with anyone else? I believe we would be vibrant, undeniable, unstoppable world changers for Christ. We would help the poor, care for the orphan, give to the needy, pray for the sick, love one another and have compassion for the lost. We would meet the needs of the lost physically and bring them hope spiritually,


God is a God of creativity. He has made you to be exactly what He wants you to be and He has a specific purpose for your life. No one else can do what He has called you to do or be who He called you to be. Chase the God-given dreams in your heart. Become the man or woman God has created you to be. God is asking many of us to do more, to go farther in our giving of our time and money. To trust Him to provide if we obey. Speed the Light started out as a dream and now provides millions of dollars worth of vehicles and media equipment to missionaries around the world. Lillian Trasher started out with a dream, and even though she is gone, her ministry to orphans thrives today. God is daring you today to trust Him enough to shake off your insecurities, step beyond your fears, resist the temptation of sin and take a journey He has mapped out just for you. Will you dare to become the man or woman He has called you to be? Will you dare to follow His plan for your life?

Adoption--The very heart of God

Ever since I was a little girl, I have had an interest in adoption. It started out because I wanted a little sister. I remember begging my parents to adopt a little girl, so I could have a sister.  A few months after I got married, God answered my prayer. My parents adopted not one, but two girls.  God doesn't always answer prayers in our timing!

Throughout my life, God has spoken to me about adopting. I remember going on a missions trip as a teenager. We went to a couple orphanages in Romania. My heart broke as I saw those little babies. The workers were few and worn out. There was no way they could physically take care of all the children in their orphanage. I wanted to take every one of the children home. I had to walk away and leave them there, but God planted a seed in my heart.

Over the past year or so, God has revealed to me how His very heart is reflected through adoption. He says in His word that we are adopted as His sons and daughters. We are grafted into the family of God. I know He is talking about a spiritual adoption, but stop and think about it. What if you had never been adopted into God's family? What if God had never taken you into His family as His very own daughter or son? Where would you be right now?

There are so many children out there who need a family. If they are not adopted, most of them will end up in the streets, begging for food, or as prostitutes, because they have no other way to make a living. Many of them will end up dead before they turn 18. What if you could make a difference in a child's life through adoption? Not only could you save them physically, but you could give them a chance to hear and see the love of God. I have read story after story of how God has asked families to reach out and adopt and how He has changed not only the life of the child, but the life of the entire family and even community. There is one church congregation, I believe it is in Texas, who has adopted over 200 children. What a picture of God's love and grace! I know God has not asked everyone to adopt a child, but I believe there are many Christian families whom God is tugging at your heart. Will you become a reflection of God's love to a child through the wonderful gift of adoption? If God is not asking you to adopt a child, is He asking you to help someone who is? Is He calling you to sponsor a child in need? Is He asking you to go on a missions trip? To provide supplies for an orphanage? God's very heart is for the lonely, abandoned, helpless and lost. What is He asking you to do? Take a step of faith and come closer to the heart of God.

The journey--the very beginning

Several people have seen my first blog post and asked me the question, "Where are you in the adoption process?" In answer, we have really only just begun and the journey ahead is long. In our case, it will  likely be two years or more before we take the 24 hour flight to the Phillipines and we become our child's "forever" family. In the mean time, we gather paperwork, have physicals done, go to training, complete a home study and gather more paperwork for our dossier---and pray. Pray for strength, pray for our unknown child,  and pray for finances. We are taking some very big steps of faith. Honestly, adopting a child is expensive and we don't have the money; thankfully, we serve the one and only God who can and will provide for our needs.  Though this journey has only just begun, I feel God drawing me closer to Him and His heart for the lost, abandoned and abused. He says,  "Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight." (James 1:27 --Message)  I can hardly look at the pictures of the "waiting" children without tearing up. So many of them will never know the love of a mommy or daddy or the love of our Heavenly Father. While I know our family can't reach them all, God has called us to reach one and we will take this journey of faith to do what He has called us to do.

Please join this blog, as I will be sharing some of the things God is teaching me throughout this experience and I am sure I will have some financial miracles to share! I am expecting God to provide in awsome ways!

It's official! I'm an international momma to be!

Well, I guess it's official! Darren and I are expecting a new member of the family. No, I am not pregnant, so don't start any rumors. We have started the process of adopting a child from the Phillipines. After several months of gathering paperwork, filling out forms, and today enduring a 2 hour psychological examination, we are well on our way to begin the home study process. It is overwhelming and exhilerating all at the same time. I've decided to start a blog to share our journey with friends, family and anyone interested in adopting. I will be writing over the next several months about our experience and I invite you to join us on our journey. Please pray for us, as I know it will not always be easy. I pray as you read what I write that you will be stirred into action for the millions of orphans throughout the world. God may not ask you to adopt a child, but He may ask you to support someone else who is adopting, or to go on a missions trip, or to start an orphan care ministry in your church. God's heart is for the orphans, the helpless and abused. I pray as you join me in this journey, God will challenge you in some way to become involved.