I am writing this post as part of the Summit 9 Blogger Giveaway!

Write a post about why you want to go to Summit 9 in Nashville on May 2-3, 2013

It is a struggle to know exactly how to begin. I feel like a woman in labor pregnant with what I must say. I cannot craft this post, I can simply be a vessel.

Yesterday was my 40th birthday and exactly one year ago from yesterday God gave me a vision for my life.  I haven't shared His vision with many people until today.  At first it may seem this story is be about me.  This story is far grander than that of a local orphan. This is God's story.


This week I was alerted to the Summit 9 Blogger Contest and I heard God's still small voice telling me to enter the contest.  So this evening at what feels like the stroke of mid-night, I am writing this post as part of the Summit 9 Blogger giveaway.

God has called me to write and speak about my life. I'm not a published writer or well known by the world.  I don't come as an expert, I come in the name of Jesus Christ my Lord and savior.  He has gently guided me to this time and this space.

After fasting for six days, God revealed in me places of Holy Discontent. Injustices in this world that grieve both his heart and mine. Abortion, human trafficking, homelessness, local orphans in our midst with no Godly mentors.

God reached deep into the pit of my soul and unsettled me in such a way that I've had to take action.

I have spent my life in the last year working towards this vision that God gave me. Much of my time has been spent in restoration.  God is a tender loving God and he has been carefully pruning out what is dead to provide opportunity for new growth.

I am on the leadership team of The Vulnerable Children's Ministry at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois.   After attending Orphan Sunday I was alarmed to discover that my church which is known throughout the world was so blind to the needs of local orphans.

I sought out the leadership team and asked if I could be on it. Their reply of course was to ask me why. I simply stated God has called me to be a voice for the voiceless. I grew up as an orphan and I have insight from that platform that needs to be shared. I was completely unaware that Dina Ackerman the woman who started the Vulnerable Children's Ministry had a blog called
A Voice 4 His Children   http://avoiceforhischildren.blogspot.com/.

Dina and some of the other leadership team members have already signed up to attend The Christian Alliance For Orphans Conference.  Last week Dina asked me if I was going to the conference.  I wasn't sure I would be able to go.  We have six kids and our resources are tight. I just couldn't seem to wrap my mind around how to make it work.

I explained all this to Dina. I had been praying about it seeking out if it was God's will for me to go. I also asked Dina to pray about it as well.

I told Dina that my 40th birthday was coming and that my husband had offered to pay for me to go skydiving. I wanted to go skydiving but I believed the only real opportunity for me to even have a chance to attend The Christian Alliance For Orphans Conference was if I asked for it for my birthday.

In my heart I knew it wouldn't be right for me to choose skydiving over the conference. I told Dina that if I could only choose one it would be the conference. Dina encouraged me that it was okay for me to choose something for myself.

In that moment it occurred to me that God's hand is not cut short. If he wanted to make it happen for me to do both then he could. 

The next day my husband came home from work in a particularly good mood. He is a carpenter by trade and owns a small construction company. He said that he had just landed a big job and believed that God was rewarding him for bringing the full tithe. God just amazes me over and over again. He truly delights in lavishing his children.

My husband said that if I wanted to go skydiving and go to the conference he didn't see why I couldn't do both. WHAT? How cool is that? We sat down right then and signed me up for skydiving. That was Friday March 22, 2013.

On Monday March 25th I was notified of this contest. Honestly, I spent Tuesday and Wednesday taking a test of faith. It's one thing to say you are going to jump out of an airplane. It's a totally different story to actually jump.

I literally spent the entire day on Wednesday in my pajamas, just me & God. I prayed I read my bible and I confessed my fears. We are in a spiritual battle and it takes place in your mind. The Lord searched my heart and soothed my soul.

I know my purpose here on this earth. I have answered the call. I trust my Lord and am watching Him go before me. I am so thankful he aligned this blogging contest the way he did. I love my Lord, he used this contest to encourage me to put myself out there. I was reluctant and he knew I needed to be encouraged. I have failed over and over and my Lord in his mighty love pulled me up out of the miry pit and declared me innocent. I AM FREE!

I actually tried to find a blog written by an orphan & there were very few. That is precisely what prompted me to start this blog.