a good word - a great reminder

Aaron & I are in a "final" stage of waiting. Our expectant mom, is in the beginning stages of labor!

He Answers You
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE “I will answer them before they even call to Me...”
(Isaiah 65:24, NLT)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria Have you ever thought about something you wanted or needed, and suddenly that need was supplied even before you had time to stop and pray? God knows your needs before you even speak them. He wants to provide for you and answer the very desires of your heart. Don’t ever think God is too busy to answer you. Don’t ever think your needs are too small or that you don’t matter. The truth is that He cares about everything that concerns you, and He loves to hear you call upon His name! When you put Him first in everything you do, when you faithfully follow His commands, He’ll pour out an extra portion of His goodness and favor upon you!

Remember, you are very special to God, and He hears you and answers you. It may not be in your timing or in the way you expected, but know that He always has your best interest at heart. He is working things out for your good, and He will always answer — sometimes before you even call!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY Father in heaven, thank You for Your faithfulness in my life. I trust that You hear me and that You will answer me. Show me Your ways and teach me to trust in You as I surrender to You every area of life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

GRACE AND PEACE!

she was right!

My Mom, my mother was right!

let me say that again - My MOTHER was RIGHT!

When Aaron and I learned of the baby due April 4th, it was the beginning of February. We had only just downloaded forms to begin the application process with an agency. I was so overwhelmed with the cost, we have been for the past few months cutting it real tight with just the 2 of us - how would we be able to sliver off any to begin an adoption fund. Then when we learned of this little one coming April 4th - our hearts are ready - it was our bank account that shouted NO.

After my first conversation with the Attorney, hearing just the retainer fee, followed by the total to complete the adoption made me sick to my stomach. Aaron was at work, so my mom was there to listen and offer encouragement to me. What stands out today, was that she encouraged us, me to move forward as if money was not a concern.

Little did she know that that day she was speaking truth over me .... since that conversation the financial blessings have poured in. Each time a cost has come up - our bank account has been ready. We have been blessed in ways I never never imagined or expected.

Double Blessing Bracelet sales continue to surge ... closing in on 300. 2 more Beads By Beth parties this month, 1 in April and 1 in May, my goal is at least 2 a month through the year. I am so thankful that the Lord reminded me of my gift of craftsmanship. THANK YOU!

Thank you dear prayer warriors - your prayers offer encouragement, protection and comfort! I am enjoying this feeling of overwhelming love, that comes from Our Father - through His precious children, thank you!

I lean on this scripture daily:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge HIM and HE will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

It is my prayer that you will each trust the Lord with all your heart - and allow him to make your paths straight.

GRACE AND PEACE!

Children of God

I had the opportunity to see Third Day live, at Northview Church 3/9/11, they have been a favorite band of mine since 2001 ... when I was saved.

this blew me away, a must share

³All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. ⁴Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. ⁵God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. ⁶So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. ⁷He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. ⁸He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. Ephesians 1: 3-8

GRACE AND PEACE!

miracle

this past weekend Pastor Steve Poe preached at Northview Church, at the conclusion he invited anyone that needed a miracle to come forward for prayer ... the aisles filled and mighty prayers went up to the heavens.

i was frozen in my seat, basking in the goodness of our Lord, and relishing the miracle of Jeremy, while finding myself in the middle of a new miracle. (Or maybe this is part of the same miracle?)

i am so thankful that my spiritual eyes are open to see and recognize where i am and how the Lord is orchestrating everything. What an amazing place to be - so completely humbled.

adoption update:

• we officially have an attorney
• the expectant birth mom has an attorney
• the expectant birth mom and her attorney have a birth plan in place
• when she goes into labor, our attorney will be notified, then we will receive a call.
• when the little guy arrives, our attorney will be notified, then we will receive a call.
• the expectant birth mom will be able to sign papers 24 hours after birth, unless she has a c-section(which is unlikely, baby #1 was vaginal)
• when the expectant mom has signed, we will head to the hospital to meet our son.

Due date, April 4th. She has been having contractions for a week - but no "real" progress. It is my prayer that the little guy continue to grow on the inside as long as possible, with the arrival as close to April 4th as possible. We are ready for him, now - so let the Lords will be done.

We have a few more papers to be returned for our homestudy, and hope to have a social worker to our house BEFORE April 1st!

This is such an amazing time, the Lord continues to provide - for ALL our needs. He continues to humble my heart with the ability to receive the blessings. That too is a miracle!

thanks to help from lifegroup girls, the nursery is together ... still desire to get some black out curtains ... thinking brown

for his ride home ... we will put it in the car this week please pray that this process will continue to bring glory to God our Father, that through ALL things HIS name will be praised!

GRACE AND PEACE!

From Aaron ...

Today, Aaron shared the devotion during the monthly all-staff meeting at Northview Church.

POWERFUL!

happy to share:

Trials, trials, trials, trials, trials

When Beth and I where planning our wedding ceremony we chose Proverbs 3 verses 5 through 6, one of my all time favor verses to quote.

It says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Back in August of 2008 I was ordained here at Northview Church. And while I went through the ceremony with a smile, nobody knew except the Lord, that I was crying in my heart.

Two weeks previous to that glorious ordination day, my wife and I received a diagnosis about our 17-week old baby that he was afflicted with a condition called Trisome 13, which means the presence of an extra (third) chromosome 13 in all of the cells. And this condition is not compatible with life outside the womb.

The commentator Mathew Henry says, “May we learn to obey and trust the Lord, even in tribulation; to live or die as he pleases: we know not for what good ends our lives may be shortened or prolonged.”

Beth and I where completely shocked when we heard the doctor reveal the life of our son would not endure long. To be completely open I thought I was exempt, immune, protected from such affliction, but not so. Proverbs chapter 3 is so poetic and romantic; to me it is so inspiring to hear “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight,” but now, needing to apply it in the midst of trial was sobering.

Nobody’s faith is immune from testing. I thought it strange that we where experiencing this trial, but the Bible says,

In 1 Peter 4:12-13

¹² Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; ¹³ but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

2nd - Beth and I are amazed that we didn’t fall apart during that trial. We actually became closer to the LORD and to one another in the midst that stormy season. This trial was lived out in the open and it could not be endured in secret. Not bothering others with our hurts, habits and hang-ups is so common, but so unhealthy.

This trial allowed us to see God working through our friends and family, Brookside Church, Northview Church and our Life Group as God demonstrated His love and compassion for us. We are now experiencing the body of Christ supporting and contributing to our calling to adopt a child.

Another calling, more trials, more grace, more joy.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

GRACE AND PEACE!

GRACE & updates

grace: HIS unmerited favor ...

Oh how HIS GRACE flows over me.

The outpouring from those around, known & unknown, to help in building our adoption fund can only be due to HIS AMAZING GRACE!

There is NOTHING I have done to deserve this amazing blessing, masked in financial help ... I am so unworthy of the help that is pouring over us now. Only because of what Jesus did for me and you, am I able to accept these gifts, blessings ... my heart is humbled over & over.

I am so thankful to be offering the double blessing bracelets, as a way to offer something in return to building our adoption fund. It is my prayer that as our family is blessed, we will be positioned to pay the blessing forward. Bracelets can be ordered & purchased through the pay pal button to the right.

ADOPTION UPDATE

Tuesday 2/22, Double Blessing Bracelets available to purchase in Capstone Cafe at Northview Church

Thursday 2/24, we have officially retained an Attorney for our adoption

Friday 2/25 (tomorrow) Aaron and I are meeting the Expectant Mom, we will have some paperwork to be signed demonstrating our intent and her intent for this little boy (DUE APRIL 4th)

Please pray that this process will continue to bring glory to God our Father, through all things HIS name will be praised.

GRACE AND PEACE!

oh wow!

we continue to be blessed by those that God has placed in and around our lives!

since posting about the upcoming adoption, needing to raise funds and availability of the "double blessing beads" - the words of encouragement and action taken by folks around us : OVERWHELMING! and loving it.

my heart continues to expand ... i accidentally landed on a scripture yesterday at church when trying to get to where the pastor was .... of course it was one that was revealed to me in October, and i have been looking for it since.

"Make room for us in your hearts.
We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one"
2 Corinthians 7:2

There was a note in my bible, i wrote 4 months ago: CHILDREN

Since that time, the Lord continues to expand my heart, in ways i never knew possible. Not just for the family that HE is preparing - but expanding my heart to receive help.

I have always had a VERY hard time asking for and receiving any kind of help. But the Lord continues to do a great work in me, and it is all because of JESUS, I am able to receive this overflow. My eyes and heart are open to HIM - THANK YOU!

For those of you that have ordered bracelets, my life group girls and I are getting busy working to meet the demand, and build a supply so we can sell them at Capstone (northview church) and have them on hand ready to ship. THANK YOU for your continued help for our family building and the women in Uganda!

i praise the Lord for this growing heart, knowing freedom i have never imagined.
PRAISE HIM!

GRACE AND PEACE!