tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35118026329759701142024-03-05T15:19:40.772-06:00An Orphan's Battlegroundspeaking truth, restoring hopeAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536033998381370149noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3511802632975970114.post-85461923266126912032014-04-29T16:10:00.000-05:002014-04-29T16:16:15.711-05:00CAFO Volunteers Needed<span style="font-size: medium;"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUegCgfAg4ALjD3MMIzWTZczocIm3TDTzfGRfgkzL_SSTJSCZnXPt9X5HD6Ua2hiaGyXbfuGftBUDpZXXkWeZN6mnAgUXUC3VDyy5o9I6wGklYLcRGDap6YM5ofOxrGtzgwAc5Kcb8Vqjs/s1600/CAFO-2014-Web-Banner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUegCgfAg4ALjD3MMIzWTZczocIm3TDTzfGRfgkzL_SSTJSCZnXPt9X5HD6Ua2hiaGyXbfuGftBUDpZXXkWeZN6mnAgUXUC3VDyy5o9I6wGklYLcRGDap6YM5ofOxrGtzgwAc5Kcb8Vqjs/s1600/CAFO-2014-Web-Banner.png" height="136" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Willow Creek Community Church will be hosting The Christian Alliance For Orphans Summit this week. Events like this don't just happen they ultimately rely on volunteers from the community. Volunteers are needed to fill the times below and if you volunteer both Thursday and Friday, you can attend the conference for <strong><em>FREE</em></strong>!!!</span><a href="http://www.cafo2014.org/" tabindex="-1" target="_parent" title="http://www.cafo2014.org/"><span style="font-size: large;">www.cafo2014.org</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><u><span style="font-size: large;">Volunteer Times</span></u></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Wednesday, 4/30/2014 </span></strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">3:00pm - 7:00pm</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Thursday 5/1/2014 </span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">7:00am - 9:30am</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">11:00am - 1:00pm</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">3:00pm - 4:00pm</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;"> Friday 5/2/2014</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">11:00am - 1:00pm</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;"> 3:00pm - 4:00pm </span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">To volunteer contact: </span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Lindsay Wagner</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">CAFO Volunteer Coordinator</span></strong><br />
<a href="mailto:lwagner@willowcreek.org" id="yui_3_7_2_1_1398717471345_18696" rel="nofollow" tabindex="-1" target="_parent" title="mailto:lwagner@willowcreek.org"><span style="color: red;"><strong></strong></span></a><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><strong><a href="mailto:lwagner@willowcreek.org">lwagner@willowcreek.org</a></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><em> <span style="font-size: x-large;">WARNING:</span> </em></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><em>Attending The CAFO </em></strong></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong><em>conference could be <span style="font-size: large;">LIFE TRANSFORMING!</span> Additionally, side effects of volunteering often include but are not limited to: <span style="font-size: large;">fun</span>, learning something new about yourself, making someone's day, feeling good about yourself, feeling alive, and a deep satisfaction that <span style="font-size: large;">you've made a difference in this world</span>. </em></strong></span>
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536033998381370149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3511802632975970114.post-42848437728747526622014-01-08T13:27:00.001-06:002014-01-08T13:27:32.371-06:00Adventure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's been almost a year now since God spoke to me and encouraged me to start telling my story on a blog. If I could use one word to describe what this last year has been like I would say....... ADVENTURE!<br />
</span><span style="font-size: large;">1. an exciting or very unusual experience.<br />
2. participation in exciting undertakings or enterprises: the spirit of adventure. <br />
3. a bold, usually risky undertaking; hazardous action of uncertain outcome. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I didn't know I was going on an adventure but that's where I've been and my husband tells me that's what makes a story. So here I am. It's a new year, a new day, a new beginning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you've been following my blog it's probably been pretty easy. I discovered that I don't do blog posts when I'm on an adventure. Now I'm hoping for a season of quietness so I can recount the adventure God has written on my life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">He's given me a story to tell and it looks a lot like a mountain that needs to be moved. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">My approach for moving this mountain.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1. Pray to God for his will to be done, and for faith.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">2. One step at a time.......</span><br />
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<strong>He replied, “...Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” </strong><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+17:20&version=NIV"><strong>Matthew 17:20</strong></a> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><em><strong><span class="text Ps-107-2" id="en-NIV-15702"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>Let the redeemed<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-15702A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup> of the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> tell their story—</span><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-107-2">those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, Psalm 107:2</span></span></strong></em></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></strong> </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536033998381370149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3511802632975970114.post-52051658842539536382013-08-22T11:56:00.000-05:002014-03-14T19:28:47.145-05:00False Start<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I have a plaque I keep in my home which reads<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>. </strong></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><em>"If You Can't Be A Good Example </em></span><em></em></span><em><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">You'll just have to serve </span><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">as a horrible warning!" by, </span></em></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Courier New;"><em>Catherine Aird </em></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">I laughed when I saw it and knew I had to have it. It's been the story of my life. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I wish I could write in this blog about all of the mess ups I've been through and how God pulled me out of them.....OH WAIT!!! I am doing that! I wish I could sit here today and say it's all good, my problems are in the past. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The truth is as long as I'm on planet earth</span><a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"> I will have problems. Jesus tells us this in John 16:33. But he also followed it up with an encouraging word. "But take heart! I have overcome the world." </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">My life is a beautiful mess! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I think I'm a mess and God thinks I'm beautiful!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I keep trying, trying, trying and messing up. God continues to faithfully help me when I cry HELP! I SCREWED UP AGAIN!</span></div>
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It's been impressed on me that I need to live my life with purpose and passion. Not my purpose and passion alone, but I am to live out the desires that God placed in my heart long ago that line up with his will.</div>
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When I got out of the children's home I remember I had a deep desire to go get educated so I could return to help. Even as a child I could see the brokenness in the system. </div>
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My plan was to take the traditional and worldly path. College, career, Help people. I made my plans but in the end the Lord determines our steps. He gave me free will and let's just say.....I made the wrong choices.</div>
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I was a believer back then, but I had such a young faith. I was an easy target for Satan. I did not read my bible, or go to church or spend time with other believers. </div>
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Trouble was, I was easily distracted. I was listening to God's voice, going down his road. Then, when I started to stray God started giving me sign posts....... warnings that I ignored.</div>
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These warning often came from people in my life. People in the church, who loved me and wanted the best for me. But I didn't listen. I took the apple. I saw it was good for food and I ate it.</div>
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I was warned not to have sex before I was married. Not to live with my boyfriend........I could go on and on.</div>
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God told Adam and Eve you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-48AD" title="See cross-reference AD">AD</a>)"></sup> for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” When they did, their eyes were opened and they saw they were naked. </div>
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YUP!</div>
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So what did they do? They hid. Ha! Like any of us can actually hide from God!</div>
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But ya know, that's exactly what I did. God showed me his way. I chose "MY" way and then I walked away. I knew I had disobeyed God but by that time the devil had a foothold in my life.</div>
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The good news is this. God takes people back! He loves us. We are made in his image. It doesn't matter what you've done or how far you've strayed. We have a shepherd who leaves the 99 sheep to go back for the one who is lost.</div>
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PRAISE GOD!</div>
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Just the other day a friend of mine was trying to warn me that I might not possibly be listening to God's voice and this was my response..."I'm not worried, if God wants to tell me something, he's God, he'll let me know."</div>
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Oh, here we goooooo.........</div>
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There is a story in the bible about a man who is going down the wrong path. God warns him and of course, the man ignores God. Then God sends and angel to redirect him. The man is riding a donkey and the donkey keeps stopping because he can see the angel in his path.</div>
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But the man cannot see the angel blocking the road. He gets frustrated and eventually beats the donkey. Finally, the donkey speaks and pleads with the guy to stop hitting him. I'm serious, it's true.</div>
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It's a good story. You can find it in the book of Numbers. But my point is this, God speaks to his children and his children hear his voice and if we happen to be ignoring our heavenly Father, he will even go so far as to make a donkey talk.</div>
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Right after I told my friend that I wasn't worried, I felt my heart quicken. Yikes, wait! I don't want to go down the rough road so I took it to God. I asked him, God what do you think about this?</div>
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God doesn't speak to me audibly, although he could....he is God after all.</div>
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God speaks to me with his word. I can tell when I'm in the right place because I am at peace and he shows up BIG TIME! He's worked miracles in my life providing for my needs in supernatural ways.</div>
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The truth is this, there is an enemy of your soul who wants to confound you. He wants to cause division in your family, in your church, in your heart. He's sneaky. </div>
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<strong><em>Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8</em></strong></div>
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It's the same old story from the beginning of time. Adam and Eve ate the apple and now we just line up waiting for our turn to discover that we are naked and ashamed.</div>
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Think about it. Are you going through something and you have no peace? The Lord we serve is the author of peace. The bible says we can have peace despite our circumstances.</div>
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God's children hear his voice. Scripture says if you draw close to God, he will draw close to you. God is not hiding from you. Could it be that you've wandered away? </div>
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Satan will do whatever he can to lead you astray. Whose voice are you listening to?</div>
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Are you seeking God's voice? Do you spend time with God? Have you spent time with your savior? If you want to know peace beyond your circumstances, then this is what you do. First of all ignore the idea that you don't have time or understanding or whatever.</div>
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It's not about you being good enough, smart enough, or having enough of anything. It's about your willingness to have a relationship.</div>
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Satan will do whatever he can to distract you, to discourage you. He will lie to you and make you think his lies are true. </div>
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Here is the truth. If your thoughts lead you to places of anxiety and stress they are not from God.</div>
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In Philippians 4:8, God tells us what to think about.</div>
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<strong><em>Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.</em></strong><br />
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I named this blog An Orphans Battleground because I want you to know the truth. If you want life and peace and joy....you can have it! It comes from accepting Jesus as savior. The battle has already been won. Jesus died for you and me. He came to earth so that we could have life!<br />
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<span class="text Rom-10-9"><strong><em>If you declare<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28198A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup> with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,”<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28198B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup> and believe<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28198C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup> in your heart that God raised him from the dead,<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28198D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></sup> you will be saved.<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28198E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)"></sup></em></strong></span><strong><em> <span class="text Rom-10-10" id="en-NIV-28199">For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. Romans 10:9-10</span></em></strong><br />
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<span class="text Rom-10-10">My Dad's version of this blog post is much simpler: <strong>If you are having troubles read your bible. And don't call me back unless you've been reading your bible.</strong></span><br />
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<span class="text Rom-10-10">It seemed harsh at the time but oh my if only I had listened. He's in heaven now anyway, Praising Jesus!</span><br />
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Now this part of this post is for all of my friends who warned me way back when, and for my friends now who have recently learned about when I fell. I LOVE YOU! THANK YOU FOR LOVING ME! Now here's the hard part.<br />
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<em><strong>WAKE UP YOU SLEEPERS!!!!</strong></em> Don't be in the church fight club. Don't be in any fight club. Let's keep short accounts. Forgive, don't dwell. God has decided that I'm purified, renewed and clean so let's leave it at that!</div>
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God did not save me and redeem me for myself. I am reaching back to comfort people with the love I myself received. The Lord himself goes before me. He will defend the cause of the orphan. This is what God says,</div>
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<strong></strong><em><strong>If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. Galatians 5:15</strong></em><br />
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I know you are used to me being a screw up. But it is you yourselves who gave me hope and told me to believe. I trusted God. I've been redeemed, saved, transformed and changed. Don't let Satan now lead you astray.<br />
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<strong>I know who I am. I am God's beloved daughter, cherished and washed clean!</strong> Satan is under my foot and we both know it! I am praying for you all.<br />
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<strong><em>Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. </em></strong>Matthew 12:25<br />
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<strong><em>If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. </em></strong>Mark 3:25<br />
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Let's be nice to each other. What kind of a testimony are we living to those who have no hope.</div>
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Please don't bother calling me and telling me that you are innocent and tell me of all of your business. I'm well aware of who has shut me down, closed me out and pointed a finger. More than that God sees it all. He's got me busy doing some work he's planned for me to do all along. </div>
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Since my birthday on March 28,2012, not a day has gone by where I haven't received an email, a phone call, a text message, a face book message, a knock on my door of someone looking for hope.</div>
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I wasn't the only one in that children's home and the global orphan crisis goes way beyond the Illinois Masonic Children's Home. Let's just all get along.</div>
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OUCH! That was a painful post to type. I do love you all!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536033998381370149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3511802632975970114.post-87260111421389431852013-08-12T14:28:00.001-05:002014-03-14T19:32:06.280-05:00Called to Speak<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I am inviting you on a journey. Walk with me as I share how God has been transforming my life. When I found myself overcome by this world ready to give up I turned to the one true God. I surrendered my life to his son Jesus Christ and there I found redemption. Today, I am an overcomer not because of what I've done but rather what Jesus Christ did on the cross. My life is not easy </span><a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: x-large;">but I belong to Jesus Christ and I am comforted by his words in John 16:33, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">One thing that amazes me is the unpredictability of this life. We fool ourselves into thinking we "know" what is going to happen in any particular day, month or year. But it is only God who knows these secret things.</span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Each day we have experiences and most of them we won't ever recall. Then there are those mind boggling unforgettable days that change the course of history. I call these profound events game changers. You know you will never be the same. Tragedy strikes, a loved one dies, you lose your job, a cancer diagnosis, you learn your spouse has been unfaithful. The list goes on and on. Turn on your T.V. or computer and you can't get away from it. The news is unforgiving highlighting tragedy after tragedy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">But I want to talk about something that isn't highlighted on the news. Game changers are not all bad. For those of us who know and love God and are called according to his purpose, God will take what the devil meant for evil and use it for good.</span><br />
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: x-large;"> I have a secret. </span></em></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">What my Father has spoken to me in dark, I will speak in the daylight. What he has whispered in my ear, I will proclaim from the roofs.</span><br />
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<span class="text Jer-9-23" id="en-NIV-19199"><em><span style="font-size: x-large;">This is what the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> says:</span></em></span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong><em><span class="text Jer-9-23">“Let not the wise boast of their wisdom </span><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Jer-9-23">or the strong boast of their strength </span></span><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Jer-9-23">or the rich boast of their riches, </span></span><span class="text Jer-9-24" id="en-NIV-19200">but let the one who boasts boast<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-19200D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></sup> about this: </span><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Jer-9-24">that they have the understanding to know<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-19200E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)"></sup> me, </span></span><span class="text Jer-9-24">that I am the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>,<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-19200F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)"></sup> who exercises kindness,</span><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Jer-9-24">justice and righteousness<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-19200H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)"></sup> on earth, </span></span><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Jer-9-24">for in these I delight,” </span></span></em></strong><span class="right"><span class="text Jer-9-24"><strong>declares the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>.</strong> Jeremiah 9:23-24 NIV</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="right"><span class="text Jer-9-24" style="font-size: x-large;">Life is unpredictable and tragedy strikes without warning. If you want peace in the midst of the storms of life, come and follow me and I will show you the God of all comfort who will never leave you or forsake you. I will introduce you to the great I AM. </span></span><span class="right"><span class="text Jer-9-24"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Praise be to the God who has comforted me in all my troubles, so that I can comfort those in trouble with the comfort I myself received from God.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="right"><span class="text Jer-9-24" style="font-size: x-large;">I would be so grateful if you could help me get the word out about this blog. For a long time I have been flying under the radar. Please take a few minutes to navigate through this blog. <span class="right"><span class="text Jer-9-24">Please share this blog with anyone you feel could be encouraged. Put me in your circle on google, like me on face book or follow me through email, tell your friends too. From the bottom of my heart I THANK YOU! What ever would be the point of all this if no one knew? </span></span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="right"><span class="text Jer-9-24"><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size: x-large;">In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16</span></em></strong></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="right"><span class="text Jer-9-24" style="font-size: x-large;"><strong><em>“No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light." Luke 11:33.</em></strong></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="text Rom-12-21" style="font-size: large;"><em>Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21 NIV</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em><span class="text Prov-16-9" id="en-NIV-16850">In their hearts humans plan their course, </span><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Prov-16-9">but the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> establishes their steps. Proverbs 16:9 NIV</span></span></em></span><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Prov-16-9"><sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16850A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Prov-16-9"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em><span class="text Prov-20-24" id="en-NIV-16979">A person’s steps are directed<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16979A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup> by the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>. </span><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Prov-20-24">How then can anyone understand their own way? Proverbs 20:24</span></span></em></span>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536033998381370149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3511802632975970114.post-91858993430087258002013-08-08T00:32:00.000-05:002014-03-14T19:32:49.451-05:00The Global Leadership Summit<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><a href="http://www.willowcreek.com/events/leadership/"><img border="0" src="http://www.willowcreek.com/images/wca_main/header/header_gls_2013.jpg" height="148" title="WCA" width="1055" /></a>
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I'm headed off to the Summit tomorrow. I'm so excited. A friend of mine posted this on her face book "<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">Nighty-night! When we wake up it will be Leadership time! It's like the night before Christmas"...</span>.Oh my goodness, I've never been able to sleep on Christmas Eve and now I find myself blogging in the wee hours of the morning....Summit Eve.</span><br />
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<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">I tried to buy a ticket to the GLS and they were SOLD OUT. I tried to win a ticket to GLS....nope. I finally settled that God had closed the door. Low and behold I received a phone call from a dear friend a few days ago asking me if I could use a ticket to the Summit. What?! How awesome is that!</span><br />
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<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">More and more these days I find myself saying "ONLY GOD!" </span><br />
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<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">The Lord has set me on a path to do his work. I never know what my day is going to be like when I wake up in the morning. But I do declare on this Summit Eve....I LOVE THE LORD!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536033998381370149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3511802632975970114.post-84257835277710061302013-06-24T12:17:00.002-05:002014-03-14T19:35:47.607-05:00CAFO SUMMIT10 to be hosted at Willow Creek Community Church<img alt="CHICAGO-2014" class="attachment-full wp-post-image" src="http://www.christianalliancefororphans.org/wp-content/uploads/CHICAGO-2014.png" height="385" width="900" /><br />
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On May 1-2, 2014 the Christian Alliance for Orphans’ annual Summit will be hosted at Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago!</h2>
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I went to Summit9 this past May with the leadership team for The Vulnerable Children's Ministry for Willow Creek Community Church. It was Awesome! Summit was started nine years ago by the Christian Alliance for Orphans with only 39 people in attendance. Summit9 had over 2600 people from 49 states and 25 countries represented. All people who love God and have hearts for orphans.<br />
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For a woman like me who was once a girl in a children's home, it was amazing. I went to Summit to become better equipped to advocate for orphans and vulnerable children, what I got was a healing balm on my heart. We prayed, praised and sat through deep intensives...then we praised and prayed some more. The Holy Spirit was on the move. What I saw at Summit9 could only be exclaimed<strong><em><span style="font-size: x-large;"> ONLY GOD!</span></em></strong><br />
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Teri Altpeter, Jedd Medefind, Alison Strutz (Me), Dina Ackermann</div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Summit9</span></strong></div>
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Jedd Medefind is the president of Christian Alliance for Orphans and the person who brought Orphan Sunday to America. When I saw Jedd I had to meet him and tell him what a miracle the Summit was. <br />
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According to the CAFO website, "The Christian Alliance for Orphans unites more than 100 respected Christian organizations and a national network of churches. Working together, our joint initiatives<em> inspire, equip </em>and<em> connect </em>Christians to “defend the fatherless” (Isaiah 1:17).<br />
Ultimately, we seek to stimulate and help grow Christian communities committed to adoption, foster care and global orphan care in the local church. Our united efforts include the national Summit, the Orphan Sunday campaign, monthly webinars, and an array of other initiatives.<br />
As the Alliance helps Christians understand God’s call to care for the orphan and equips them for effective response, the impact reaches far beyond a single program or met need. Rather, an ever-expanding army of passionate advocates invest time, talent and treasure in a <em>personal </em>and <em>sustained commitment </em>to caring for orphans in the name of Christ."<br />
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SIGN UP below for more Summit details as they become available and claim your $10 off DISCOUNT when registration opens in early 2014!</h4>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536033998381370149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3511802632975970114.post-82328844158144785142013-05-27T21:54:00.001-05:002014-02-26T01:48:48.911-06:00Stuff and the Language of Letting Go<span style="font-size: large;">I like stuff. But I've noticed the more stuff I have, the more it attracts more stuff. The bible tells me to run a worthy race, I am to throw off anything that hinders me. It occurred to me yet again today that my "stuff" is hindering me.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">What do I mean by stuff? Anything physical, spiritual or emotional that serves no purpose in my life right now. Anything that is not helping me further the Kingdom of God. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">While I was cleaning out my kitchen this morning I found many non-electric appliances. I went through a time period when I was fascinated with these devices. I was frustrated with my fixer-upper house. I was frustrated with my astronomical electric bills. So I started fixating on living off the land and getting off the grid.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I didn't want all the gadgets that I couldn't afford or even fit into my house so I started living in a Little House On The Prairie dream world. I wanted to escape from my present reality so I just started collecting stuff. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The truth is I couldn't accept where God was holding me. Yes that's right, where God was holding me. I wanted my circumstances to change and because God wasn't moving the way I thought he should I just started collecting stuff.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Over the last year I have been going through my house, box by box, closet by closet. It's appalling how much stuff I have kept. I'm not a pack rat, I hope....but I did notice an inclination to keep things far beyond their season.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">When God first gave me a vision for moving forward with my life I flat out told him, "sorry, I can't.....all this stuff is in my way." So God has been painfully pruning me.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">He has taken people out of my life. Good people whom I love and yet for reasons only known to God these people are just out of reach. As God has been weeding in the garden of my life, the sun has been able to shine in. He has made room for new growth where there was no hint of life.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">One shocking revelation I discovered about myself is my propensity to be selfish. Everything I owned I had for my pleasure or for my own selfish preservation. I've been serving myself. Obsessed with me, me, me.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I've been holding onto grudges. Unforgiveness in my heart that I've been carrying around with me for years. God has asked me to give up more than I've felt is reasonable. We've argued. Yes, I'm sad to say I've argued with the one true God. I've questioned his authority. Asking, don't I deserve a little bit of happiness after all I've gone through? What about me? What about me? Again, God WHAT ABOUT ME!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But it's not about me. As I've been letting go of unforgiveness, tons of physical treasures that I cannot take to heaven, even relationships....people that I need to stop demanding attention from, I've found life. It's counter intuitive but as I let go of the control I think I have, I've found freedom.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The more things I give away, the more time, energy and money I have to be doing God's work. In God's kingdom if you want something, you don't try to keep it for yourself, rather you give it away.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">God just keeps blessing me. I give and he gives. As I've removed the physical, emotional and spiritual clutter from my life God has filled those spaces with fruit. I have more joy, peace and patience despite the difficulties before me.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">My Father God is refining me. I'm far from perfect and desperately in need of a savior. I've found that the language of letting go is a continual discipline. Whenever I become disconnected from the one true God, the world is quick to move in and smother me.</span><br />
<br />
<div>
<strong>Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, </strong><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+12:1&version=NIV"><strong>Hebrews 12:1</strong></a><br />
</div>
<div>
<div class="passage version-NIV result-text-style-normal text-html ">
<div class="left-1 child-first-line-1 top-05">
<span class="text Jer-29-11" id="en-NIV-19647">For I know the plans<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-19647A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup> I have for you,” declares the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, “plans to prosper<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-19647B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup> you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 NIV</span><br />
<h3>
</h3>
<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-19647C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup><br /></div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<span class="keywordresultextras"></span><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536033998381370149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3511802632975970114.post-51941359614962068622013-05-25T23:46:00.001-05:002013-05-26T09:55:13.400-05:00My Quiet Place<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/YDjDKMuKR2o" width="459"></iframe><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><em><strong>Quiet Place....</strong>This is the place I go when I'm undone, when I need to restore. God gives me peace, He </em></span><em><span style="font-size: x-large;">helps me to recalibrate. God's kingdom is counter intuitive. I was brought up to try harder, push through and do more. </span></em><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength...Isaiah 30:15 </span></strong><em><span style="font-size: x-large;">When every fiber of my being is in an uproar God tells me to be still. The world says do. God says trust. When I discover I've</span></em><em><span style="font-size: x-large;"> wandered far from God, his word tells me to draw close to Him and He will draw close to me. Whoever seeks Him will find him. I run to my Lord for solitude. Shutting out the world I spend time with my Savior. I pray, I read His word, I sit quietly while he restores my soul. Thank you Jesus.</span></em></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536033998381370149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3511802632975970114.post-78945402286993793822013-04-18T09:07:00.002-05:002013-05-25T21:30:43.694-05:00Why The Local Church Should Start At Home<span style="font-size: large;">When it comes to orphans the local church needs to start at home. Unfortunately this is something that many people in the church are unaware of. We see orphans in third world countries living in poverty and feel compelled to act. What we don't see is the tragedy and brokenness happening right here. We feel safe and so we believe that we are. My child has two parents. I love my husband, we go to church, we live in a good neighborhood. We look for proof of tomorrow. But honestly, we don't know what tomorrow holds.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a name='more'></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I grew up in a children's home but that could not have been predicted well by my family of origin. My parents were both college educated and well off financially. Then slowly the division set in. Under the stress of life my father became a raging alcoholic. My parents divorced. My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. She died. My Uncle gained custody of me and my siblings. My uncle put us in a children's home and that is where I stayed for 7 years.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This is the type of thing that keeps me up at night. This is what woke me up this morning. If this were just about me I would rather not re-visit this offense. I wouldn't choose to overlook it in a haughty way. I would rather not feel the pain of yet another rejection, triggering the abandonment feelings I've tried so desperately to get away from since my childhood.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I want to keep those demons in a dark room under lock and key. Yet this is the place God has brought me to. A place where I need to open the door and let the demons out. It's what they say that bother me more than anything else. </span><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">"You're nobody. Nobody wanted you. Nobody wants you now. You cannot make a difference. your voice will not heard. Your church is too big. You are too small. No one will ever listen to you. Why don't you just give up? You can try, try, try, but it will all be in vain!"</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">These are thoughts that have whirled around in my mind since childhood. I've tried in vain to take them captive and make them obedient to Christ. They were relentless and unmerciful driving me to the point where I started to feel insane. It has only been through the power of the Holy Spirit that I've learned to silence these voices.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It has taken me most of my life to get to the point where I've finally learned that I don't have to listen to these voices and that they don't come from God. Satan comes only to steal, kill and destroy. He's a liar and a thief. For many years he lied to me, I believed him and I had no peace.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Then one morning God woke me up and said, "Test the Spirits." What? What does that mean, test the spirits. I don't get it. </span><span style="font-size: large;">I asked my husband, he didn't know. I started flipping through my bible and asked God again. I searched and searched and couldn't figure it out. That was the first of several mornings that I heard God's still small voice saying "Test the Spirits."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Finally one day I was sitting reading my bible and I actually came upon a section entitled Test the Spirits and I learned what God was saying. People who are from the world listen to the world. Those of us who have the spirit of truth listen to the truth. Praise the Lord! I thank God for delivering me! I have been born again!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">These aren't just voices in my head. Real people walking around with skin on tell me it's hopeless. People in my own family, people in my church, discourage me. Not everyone has the spirit of truth.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text 1John-4-6">The Message version of the bible puts it this way.......</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="text 1John-4-1" id="en-MSG-12915" style="font-size: x-large;"><u>Don’t Believe Everything You Hear</u></span></div>
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><em>My dear children, you come from God and belong to God. You have already won a big victory over those false teachers, for the Spirit in you is far stronger than anything in the world. These people belong to the Christ-denying world. They talk the world’s language and the world eats it up. But we come from God and belong to God. Anyone who knows God understands us and listens. The person who has nothing to do with God will, of course, not listen to us. This is another test for telling the Spirit of Truth from the spirit of deception. 1 John 4:4-6</em></strong></span><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Message (MSG)</span><br />
<div class="heading">
<h3>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">This is not just about me. There are orphans among my congregation orphans who need someone to care about them. They're surrounded by thousands of people and yet they are alone.</span></h3>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm not just talking about children when I say orphans, although I care about orphans of any age. What I'm talking about is this. When a son turns eighteen in our culture he becomes an "adult" yet he will always be someones son.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I turned 18 and I became an adult, but I am still an orphan. Sometimes our roles change but that doesn't always take away the other titles you've had. Women become wives, some wives become mothers, yet mothers are still daughters...on and on it goes. You get it.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">God loves people but he especially loves the out cast and marginalized and I am so thankful for that. Because not enough people in our church acknowledge local orphans among us. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">When a person wrongs you in such an offensive way, they're either ignorant to what they're doing or really mean. Love believes the best. So I'll assume the church is blind. I believe God has not awakened everyone yet.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A Few months ago my pastor Bill Hybels talked about how we need to reach out to the people next to us, that no one should feel alone at Willow. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">AGREED.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Yet, here I am, I see people who are alone in this ocean of a congregation. I have been intentional about getting to know people, fortunately God has led me to some very kindhearted souls. But there are others who are less fortunate. Other adult orphans whose voices have been silenced and they no longer know how to speak out. They sit by passively in pain and watch from the outside looking in. They are silenced behind an invisible soundproof wall.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I've been one of the fortunate people. For whatever reason, God allowed me to experience first hand love from the local church where I grew up. People from the congregation reached into my world and took action when they saw that I had become orphaned. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It wasn't just anonymous people from the congregation. The head pastor of the church Dr. DeKruyter reached into my life and led by example. He didn't push me aside like he so easily could have, he didn't play favorites.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">When I was a little girl, he approached me. He inquired about my life, days and weeks as they went by. It didn't matter that there was a long line of wealthy tithers waiting to talk to him. He was on my level and he cared. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The Christ Church congregation caught the vision and they responded. My mother's dear friend Margie Hatter arranged it so that I could go to church with her every Sunday. For years she picked me up at the children's home and brought me to church. She was a single mom. But she did not use that as an excuse. She did something, she acted, she was obedient. Margie mentored me, nurtured me, loved me. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><em><strong>One person doing their part can make all the difference</strong>!</em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Other people rose up as well. Taking us in for holidays, taking us to the circus, filling in the gaps as best they could. No gesture went unnoticed. When you grow up in a children's home you look anywhere and everywhere for hope. Proof that you matter.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">When I became an adult it didn't change. Dr. DeKruyter stopped what he was doing and he paid attention. It takes skill to "really" care about the marginalized. Dr. Dekruyter passed out of this world, but the seed he scattered is bearing fruit. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I find myself at Willow now. A seed was planted in a young orphan and now I'm here in my Willow "family." The ironic part is that key people...leaders in this family don't know that I exist (and others like me for that matter). To be clear, <strong>I am not bad mouthing Willow!</strong> I love my church home and the people here.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I haven't traveled an easy road. I've made a lot of devastating mistakes. When I was getting ready to get married for the third time I remember seeking Dr. DeKruyter out to do the wedding. He was living in Florida at the time and his health was beginning to fail him. But I wanted him. He was all I knew. He was who I trusted and respected. He had not overlooked me. He had loved me with a love that comes from God.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I knew it was unlikely he would be able to do the wedding but still I had to try. Our church had changed since he left. A new pastor Dan Meyer had been put in his place and I was a nobody to him. I was a person who rarely attended church, didn't tithe, I wasn't a cute little girl anymore......the only platform I had was that I was a screw up. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I was a messed up person who wanted to get married at my church. I didn't want to get married in the small garden vespers chapel, I wanted to get married in the BIG worship arena. I wanted to walk down the aisle that my pastor had walked down at the end of every service. When I was a little girl I dreamed not of walking down that aisle but of running and doing gymnastics down that aisle. In my mind I would run as fast down the aisle like Mary Lou Retton .....then round off, flip flop, flip flop, back flip.....landing squarely in front of my groom, my husband to be. The head pastor of the church would be there because I was somebody. I was important and through his leading by example the rest of the people knew it.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Dr. DeKruyter talked to Dan Meyer and all I know is after that I was taken care of. We had our wedding there I was not cast out. Dan Meyer has been very kind to me and my husband over the years. He even carved time out of his busy schedule not that long ago and took us to his country club. I believe it all started with a word from Dr. DeKruyter or maybe it was the one true God. Either way he has been ever so kind, and I don't even attend Christ Church anymore.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I went back to Christ Church of Oak brook, my childhood church this past Saturday night. For some reason I had been feeling pulled there all week. </span><span style="font-size: large;">I found a seat in the back and settled in to take notes.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I love writing, even if it's writing notes on what someone else has to say. Once something is written it changes everything. The sermon was about faith and it took me back to a sermon Dr. Dekruyter had done called "Fearless Faith." He talked about my mother and our family in that sermon and it became a lifelong gift for me. I highlighted that sermon and read it over and over again.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">When the service was over Dan Meyer announced that he had done a funeral for a mother in her 40's who went out into her garden and for no apparent reason, she died. She left behind 4 children. Immediately my body reacted, all the signs of fight or flight. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I hurriedly moved to the front of the church. I had to tell Dan NOW YOU MUST LEAD THESE PEOPLE, YOU MUST LEAD BY EXAMPLE, YOU MUST SHOW YOUR CONGREGATION THESE CHILDREN MATTER.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Today I'm back in my church. I've started this blog. I'm trying to reach out. I'm trying to speak. I'm ill equipped of my own accord. I'm hoping, I'm praying......trusting God. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><em><u>The larger a platform a person has, the more difficult it is to tell them something. I can't break into this congregation. My voice is unheard. </u></em></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><em><u></u></em></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><em><u>Too big, too big, this church is too big.....YOU ARE SMALL scream the demons, give up your voice will never get through!</u></em></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;"><em>I stand at the ramparts and wait for my Lord to awaken the hearts and souls of the Willow Congregation. I wait for him, I know it can only come from him. I pray and pray and wait......I know it will happen....it has to happen.</em></span></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></em></strong><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-large;">I dream of the day Willow Creek Community Church....my church, the church that coined the phrase...</span></em><br />
<strong><em><span style="font-size: x-large;">"The Local Church is The Hope of The World," </span></em></strong><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-large;">is awakened to the cries of the local orphans. It can happen. I believe it will happen, one person at a time, listening to the spirit of truth and obeying. </span></em><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="woj"><em></em> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="woj"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="woj"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="woj"><div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><em><strong>“But now, Lord, what do I look for?<br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-39-7">My hope is in you. Psalm 39:7</span></span></strong></em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><em><strong><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-39-7"></span></span></strong></em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-39-7">The <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> has heard my cry for mercy;<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-13995A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup><br /><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-6-9">the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> accepts my prayer. Psalm 6:9</span></span></span></span></span><em><span class="text 1John-4-6" id="en-NIV-30610"></span></em><br />
<em><span class="text 1John-4-6" id="en-NIV-30610"></span></em><br />
<em><span class="text 1John-4-6" id="en-NIV-30610"></span></em><br />
<em><span class="text 1John-4-6" id="en-NIV-30610"><h3>
<span class="text Ps-143-1" id="en-NIV-16295">Psalm 143 </span></h3>
<h3>
<span class="text Ps-143-1">A psalm of David.</span></h3>
<div class="poetry">
<div class="line">
<span class="text Ps-143-1"><sup class="versenum"><span style="font-size: x-small;">1 </span></sup><span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, hear my prayer,<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16295A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-143-1">listen to my cry for mercy;<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16295B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup></span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-143-1">in your faithfulness<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16295C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup> and righteousness<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16295D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></sup></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-143-1">come to my relief.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-143-2" id="en-NIV-16296"><sup class="versenum"><span style="font-size: x-small;">2 </span></sup>Do not bring your servant into judgment,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-143-2">for no one living is righteous<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16296E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)"></sup> before you.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-143-3" id="en-NIV-16297"><sup class="versenum"><span style="font-size: x-small;">3 </span></sup>The enemy pursues me,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-143-3">he crushes me to the ground;</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-143-3">he makes me dwell in the darkness<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16297F" title="See cross-reference F">F</a>)"></sup></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-143-3">like those long dead.<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16297G" title="See cross-reference G">G</a>)"></sup></span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-143-4" id="en-NIV-16298"><sup class="versenum"><span style="font-size: x-small;">4 </span></sup>So my spirit grows faint within me;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-143-4">my heart within me is dismayed.<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16298H" title="See cross-reference H">H</a>)"></sup></span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-143-5" id="en-NIV-16299"><sup class="versenum"><span style="font-size: x-small;">5 </span></sup>I remember<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16299I" title="See cross-reference I">I</a>)"></sup> the days of long ago;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-143-5">I meditate<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16299J" title="See cross-reference J">J</a>)"></sup> on all your works</span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-143-5">and consider what your hands have done.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-143-6" id="en-NIV-16300"><sup class="versenum"><span style="font-size: x-small;">6 </span></sup>I spread out my hands<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16300K" title="See cross-reference K">K</a>)"></sup> to you;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-143-6">I thirst for you like a parched land.<sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NIV-16300a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[</span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+143&version=KJV;NIV#fen-NIV-16300a" title="See footnote a"><span style="font-size: x-small;">a</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">]</span></sup></span></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-143-7" id="en-NIV-16301"><sup class="versenum"><span style="font-size: x-small;">7 </span></sup>Answer me quickly,<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16301L" title="See cross-reference L">L</a>)"></sup> <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>;</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-143-7">my spirit fails.<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16301M" title="See cross-reference M">M</a>)"></sup></span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-143-7">Do not hide your face<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16301N" title="See cross-reference N">N</a>)"></sup> from me</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-143-7">or I will be like those who go down to the pit.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-143-8" id="en-NIV-16302"><sup class="versenum"><span style="font-size: x-small;">8 </span></sup>Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16302O" title="See cross-reference O">O</a>)"></sup></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-143-8">for I have put my trust in you.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-143-8">Show me the way<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16302P" title="See cross-reference P">P</a>)"></sup> I should go,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-143-8">for to you I entrust my life.<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16302Q" title="See cross-reference Q">Q</a>)"></sup></span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-143-9" id="en-NIV-16303"><sup class="versenum"><span style="font-size: x-small;">9 </span></sup>Rescue me<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16303R" title="See cross-reference R">R</a>)"></sup> from my enemies,<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16303S" title="See cross-reference S">S</a>)"></sup> <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-143-9">for I hide myself in you.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-143-10" id="en-NIV-16304"><sup class="versenum"><span style="font-size: x-small;">10 </span></sup>Teach me<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16304T" title="See cross-reference T">T</a>)"></sup> to do your will,</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-143-10">for you are my God;<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16304U" title="See cross-reference U">U</a>)"></sup></span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-143-10">may your good Spirit</span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-143-10">lead<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16304V" title="See cross-reference V">V</a>)"></sup> me on level ground.<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16304W" title="See cross-reference W">W</a>)"></sup></span></span></div>
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<span class="text Ps-143-11" id="en-NIV-16305"><sup class="versenum"><span style="font-size: x-small;">11 </span></sup>For your name’s sake,<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16305X" title="See cross-reference X">X</a>)"></sup> <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, preserve my life;<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16305Y" title="See cross-reference Y">Y</a>)"></sup></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-143-11">in your righteousness,<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16305Z" title="See cross-reference Z">Z</a>)"></sup> bring me out of trouble.</span></span><br />
<span class="text Ps-143-12" id="en-NIV-16306"><sup class="versenum"><span style="font-size: x-small;">12 </span></sup>In your unfailing love, silence my enemies;<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16306AA" title="See cross-reference AA">AA</a>)"></sup></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-143-12">destroy all my foes,<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16306AB" title="See cross-reference AB">AB</a>)"></sup></span></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-143-12">for I am your servant.<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-16306AC" title="See cross-reference AC">AC</a>)"></sup></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536033998381370149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3511802632975970114.post-33468724837935351182013-04-16T11:33:00.000-05:002014-02-26T01:54:46.488-06:00God is Sufficient<span style="font-size: large;">I was up a lot last night. Insomnia again. </span><span style="font-size: large;">My mind cycling through the tiring thoughts I wish so desperately to be free from. It began with thoughts of the people God has placed in my life. Remembering I take myself back.............</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><em></em></span><a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><em>I feel the burden of a friend who just checked into a battered woman's shelter. I shiver at the thought. Tears well up in my eyes as the familiar anxiety starts to rise to the surface. My heart pounding like it will leap from my chest. I throw off the covers as my cold sweat breaks out. </em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><em>What is my problem?</em></strong> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><em>I'm not the one who checked into a shelter today. But I'm bothered. My mind won't let me forget. It wasn't that long ago when I too was a victim of domestic violence. The realization sets in, my wounds aren't as healed as they appear.</em></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><em>I admire my friend for her strength and courage. I wasn't strong enough to go to the shelter. </em></span><span style="font-size: large;"><em>The last time it happened I found myself walking circles in a snowstorm, crying in a state of confusion.</em> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><em>What will happen of me if I go to a battered woman's shelter? What of my children? Will they be taken away from me? My core fear of abandonment rears it's ugly head. I couldn't take losing my children. NO! I won't go! I can't take another loss. I cried out to God.</em> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><em>HELP, MERCY......the holy spirit intercedes with groans, my words are gone.</em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><em><strong>Oh THANK YOU, THANK YOU LORD, thank you for the holy spirit who intercedes for me!</strong></em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Counseling has been a permanent fixture on my calendar. It's a lot of work, and I resent that at times. I know I won't likely heal without it. So I go, like physical therapy for a person whose been injured physically. But it's hard. It's discipline. I don't like it. I have to do it anyway.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><em>My mind changes directions and I start to obsess about other people in my life. It's a roller coaster. I'm strapped in and I can't get off. I pray for my friend at the shelter and all of the other people that God has placed on my heart.</em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">God is faithful. I know this. I find satisfaction in sending my prayers up to him. He'll know what to do. He'll know how to fix it. He'll know when. He'll know. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Ahhhhh, I start to feel better. God's got it. I start to drift off to sleep on my couch and I awaken with more fears. God and I have finally honed in on me, and my specific problems.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I find myself trying to sort through all the details of some coming travels. I'm going to the Christian Alliance for Orphans conference. My husband was going to take off work and now he's not. I need to find someone to take care of my kids.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Who can take care of my kids better than me? What was I thinking when I signed up for this? I can't leave my kids. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">God assures me it will be fine. But I refuse to believe the God of the universe. He hasn't given me the details I crave. I want peace but I am not ready to take the leap of faith that promises peace. I demand proof!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><em>Who will take care of my kids? Who? What will the details of their day be like when I'm gone? What will they eat? What if they're ignored when they have a need? Who will cuddle them? Will they resent me for leaving them? </em></span><span style="font-size: large;"><em>The questions go on and on.</em> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><em>Overwhelmed I continue on with my worries. And another thing God, what about my pets while I'm gone? Questions similar to concerns of my children swirl around in my head.</em></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">My body just can't sit still at this point. I have to get up and pace. I discover my anxiety had turned into anger. I turn my thoughts to myself. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><em>What of me Lord? Have you forgotten my neediness? How will I ever be able to function without my children, my pets.....my comforts of my cocoon.</em></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I confess, I've spent countless hours trying to figure out how I could take my dog with me anywhere in public. I'm not deaf or blind. I've looked into making her a therapy dog, but the truth is I don't really want to spend my time in hospitals. I just want to take her everywhere with me for my own selfish reasons.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Bella (my dog) sooths my anxiety that has been a companion since childhood. I actually did find out that I could take her in public for my "disability" which is my anxiety. According to the law I don't think I have to tell anyone the nature of my disability. I just have to tell them what she is trained to do.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But I've never been brave enough to put myself under that spot light. What if I slip up and accidentally tell someone I'm afraid..... A LOT! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">What has my dog Bella been trained to do? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Oh, she licks my tears. She nuzzles me with her head when I start to hold my breath every time the anxiety rises. Yay, that's not going to happen. I'm not going to that vulnerable place. Openly tell the world I'm riddled with anxiety. NO THANKS!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Then I find myself here, this morning. I'm tired and emotional from being awake so much of the night. I probably won't tell anyone. I'll hide it as much is possible. But what of this post? Do I dare post this on my blog? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I hear God's still small voice.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong> </strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><em><strong>Post it, Alison.</strong></em></span><br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></em><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Again, my mind starts to reel. Do you know what you are saying God? Someone, even one person could read my blog. What if it's one of those mockers? I don't like the mockers.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><em><strong>I'll keep you safe</strong>,</em> He gently replies.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I ponder this, yes God will keep me safe.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>I feel a flutter of hope.</strong> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Maybe the one person who reads this will find comfort because they'll learn they're not alone? What if that one person discovers God will be there for them too? And that he blesses his children with the desires of their hearts.....like children and pets and a warm home in a nice neighborhood, a family, a church home? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">What if I don't post? What of the day when God holds me accountable for this day? The day he gently said, <strong><em>Post it, Alison. </em></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I think of myself standing before God, trying in vain to come up with an excuse for my disobedience. I remember....</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">my grace is sufficient, my power is made perfect in your weakness...</span></em></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Here I go.....I'm posting:)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<strong><em>But he said to me, <span class="woj">“My grace<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29032A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup> is sufficient for you, for my power<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29032B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup> is made perfect in weakness.<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29032C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup>”<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-29032D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)"></sup></span> Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (New International Version)</em></strong>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536033998381370149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3511802632975970114.post-75938370334893628082013-04-06T22:14:00.001-05:002013-05-26T21:09:40.006-05:00Blogging Fear<span style="font-size: large;">I've come again to my blog to write. Writing comes quite easy for me. I dare to say I do it most days, sometimes several times a day. I like to write out my prayers to God. He listens to me with love and kindness always absorbing anything and everything I have to say.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I don't have to spell right or even finish my sentences, because God already knows what I'm going to say. </span><span style="font-size: large;">I wasn't particularly receptive when God started impressing it on me to share my inner thoughts and life with the world. People can be judgemental and down right mean. I feel pressure to perform to be better than I am.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a name='more'></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I first published this blog on February 13th of this year. After about a week I put my blog into a private status. I didn't stop writing. In fact, I started writing more. I've written 60 blog posts in the last month and a half. I'm telling you this why? Because part of my purpose of this blog is to honestly share what's going on in my mind and to share the truths about God and his word as I know them to be.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The fear of not knowing what to post next, has literally paralyzed me and I've kept the majority of my posts private. It's silly really when I think about it. You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">God has made it clear to me to share my life, my experiences and failures with the world. I've been told to share whether people listen or not. Over and over God has said, speak. So I will share my life. It's ugly at times. I'm afraid and more than a bit uncertain. But I am more afraid of disobeying God. So I will pour out my heart in this blog. I will share as best I can. If you have questions or comments please post them. My sincere thanks to any and all of you who actually take time to come to read my blog. THANK YOU!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536033998381370149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3511802632975970114.post-9655903043010994182013-03-30T02:45:00.001-05:002013-05-25T21:46:03.973-05:00Jumping for Jesus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDLKNoB1WWw5v0j7YUV6jfXooYE65npJuP2D2J3QkQ8TMc67_WnAle163n8QHfWMJzl0UVgJPyt5hyphenhyphenXnvhcbXMQtQ9iHfG4pZySigZqMoItsWUOFQqgXkKsCm3HC2GboG70hM5P0RYu6E/s1600/Birthday+Skydive+2013+063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDLKNoB1WWw5v0j7YUV6jfXooYE65npJuP2D2J3QkQ8TMc67_WnAle163n8QHfWMJzl0UVgJPyt5hyphenhyphenXnvhcbXMQtQ9iHfG4pZySigZqMoItsWUOFQqgXkKsCm3HC2GboG70hM5P0RYu6E/s1600/Birthday+Skydive+2013+063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDLKNoB1WWw5v0j7YUV6jfXooYE65npJuP2D2J3QkQ8TMc67_WnAle163n8QHfWMJzl0UVgJPyt5hyphenhyphenXnvhcbXMQtQ9iHfG4pZySigZqMoItsWUOFQqgXkKsCm3HC2GboG70hM5P0RYu6E/s1600/Birthday+Skydive+2013+063.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a><span class="text Exod-9-16" style="font-size: x-large;"><strong><em>But I have raised you up<sup> </sup>for this very purpose,<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-1759A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup> that I might show you my power<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-1759B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup> and </em></strong></span><br />
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<span class="text Exod-9-16"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong><em>that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.</em></strong> Exodus 9:16</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><em>for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Philippians2:13</em></span><span style="font-size: large;"><em><b> </b></em></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="text Rom-8-28" id="en-NIV-28145">And we know that in all things God works for the good<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28145A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup> of those who love him, who have been called<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28145B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup> according to his purpose.<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-28145C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"></sup></span> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Romans 8:28 </span></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: x-large;">For I know the plans<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-19647A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup> I have for you,” declares the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, “plans to prosper<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-19647B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup> you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.</span></em></strong><strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">Jeremiah 29:11 NIV</span></em></strong></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30294A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup> orphans and widows<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30294B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup> in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.<strong> </strong></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong>James 1:27</strong></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life,<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26492A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup> and have it to the full. </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong>John 10:10</strong></span></em></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: x-large;">link to see my skydiving video</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtH8VLD_fxQ"><span style="font-size: large;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtH8VLD_fxQ</span></a></em></strong></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536033998381370149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3511802632975970114.post-88666655138251216462013-03-29T23:34:00.000-05:002013-05-27T21:25:59.469-05:00God's Call on My Life<em><span style="font-size: large;">When I was nine years old my mom died from breast cancer. The world I knew was blown away like a tornado ravaged city.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">I spent seven years in a children's home. No one tucked me in at night. Gone were hugs & kisses that proved my worth. During those years I came to know God as my Father. Physically I was well cared for but my heart was grieved.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">When I was 17 I graduated from high school and set out into the world. Tucked inside my heart I had wisdom that my mother left with me before she died. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-size: x-large;">"Alison, Love God with all your heart and soul. Don't have sex before you are married and when you get married stay married forever."</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">I did not heed my mothers wisdom. I had sex before I was married which resulted in two abortions. I've been married three times and divorced twice. <strong>The one thing that I did get right was</strong></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><a name='more'></a> that I loved God. I loved my Lord then and I love my Lord now.</strong></span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">This journey has not been easy. My faith has been tested and I have failed more times than I can count. But God is ever so merciful. Time and again he has forgiven my sin, washed me clean and set me straight.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">A few years ago I found myself in a counselors office. She asked what brought me in. I explained to her about what I then called my "abandonment issues" and then I dropped my list of confessions in her lap.</span></em><br />
<ul>
<li>My Mom died of cancer when I was nine</li>
<li>My Dad shot himself in the head</li>
<li>I've been divorced twice</li>
<li>I've had two abortions</li>
<li>I worked as a stripper</li>
<li>My 2nd husband left me one morning. He drove to California instead of work</li>
<li>We lost our house after my that</li>
<li>I can't control my husband or teenagers</li>
<li>I'm here now because I'm totally broken. </li>
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">I discovered that I had not properly grieved any of the loss I had experienced. I spent the entire summer paying good money to sit and cry. Then one day the counsellor asked me if I knew why I was on this earth to begin with.</span></em><br />
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<em><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I discovered I did not know my life purpose.</span></strong></em><br />
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<strong><span class="text Prov-29-18" id="en-NIV-17243">Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint;</span></strong><span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"><strong></strong></span><span class="text Prov-29-18"><strong>but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction. Proverbs 29:18 (NIV)</strong></span></span></div>
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<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Prov-29-18"> <em><span style="font-size: large;">The Voice (VOICE) version of the bible puts it like this...</span></em></span></span></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Where there is no vision from God, the people run wild, <span class="indent-1"><span class="text Prov-29-18">but those who adhere to God’s instruction know genuine happiness. Proverbs 29:18 </span></span></span></em></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">I journaled and prayed, pouring out my heart to God and asking him for his wisdom. Then one day I walked into therapy with an over sized bag. The counsellor looked at me and asked, "What's that?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I dropped down into her over sized couch and stated, "these are my journals, I have been writing them since I was a little girl. I want to write a book!"</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3l7MkfO5UKVbEVz7-4Z7WyEcz58BQnTuUB4hwaLnvWw1-TPjiYq2-YyU6Gv5nd9YvfCixRvXjZQRKn0Q0KX8RMuYnvD0zNpKwzMnQ3d8Ocx9bCa1KRpGGOiGnC8rxbWV-6qKpPvdAo5I/s1600/journal++pictutres+for+blog+contest+3+29+2013+065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3l7MkfO5UKVbEVz7-4Z7WyEcz58BQnTuUB4hwaLnvWw1-TPjiYq2-YyU6Gv5nd9YvfCixRvXjZQRKn0Q0KX8RMuYnvD0zNpKwzMnQ3d8Ocx9bCa1KRpGGOiGnC8rxbWV-6qKpPvdAo5I/s1600/journal++pictutres+for+blog+contest+3+29+2013+065.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTdRBHVtLwD_eBJoPLazEt1eX1gMrREUzIQsERRRNW2n2N54UTPuGbIx0A_liJZKOpO1I3qUiUSh1p_LWgryw4Ntsq_Zh6T_ETNK0677OE861m27EnTuYd7wk8-1NVM6Xxyai2oFqHINNh/s1600/journal++pictutres+for+blog+contest+3+29+2013+063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTdRBHVtLwD_eBJoPLazEt1eX1gMrREUzIQsERRRNW2n2N54UTPuGbIx0A_liJZKOpO1I3qUiUSh1p_LWgryw4Ntsq_Zh6T_ETNK0677OE861m27EnTuYd7wk8-1NVM6Xxyai2oFqHINNh/s1600/journal++pictutres+for+blog+contest+3+29+2013+063.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Upon review of my journals I had discovered one particular page that jumped out at me.</span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYhyphenhyphen0LnJB9J3kFmbGPUoBpZtFTEWJYPsGua8LEJVUtJvWgmsJLgYnavPgTqC5y-ShX1w9iQL9LGCDTBlYdwJkmQfmVydDomXOCYkzbDuv8NMDtNfHHTg36ZUGZ5_cNvqbSzg8FOU-a0IjY/s1600/Blog+contest++29+2013+057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYhyphenhyphen0LnJB9J3kFmbGPUoBpZtFTEWJYPsGua8LEJVUtJvWgmsJLgYnavPgTqC5y-ShX1w9iQL9LGCDTBlYdwJkmQfmVydDomXOCYkzbDuv8NMDtNfHHTg36ZUGZ5_cNvqbSzg8FOU-a0IjY/s1600/Blog+contest++29+2013+057.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My journals were filled with laments up to God. It seemed to me that if I were to share my testimony.....well I believed it could help to heal other broken hearts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This was a turning point for me. My church had a catalyst breakfast emphasizing how Christians had a responsibility to tell their stories. I was pumped.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">For the next two years I found myself trying....trying....trying to write for God. </span><span style="font-size: large;">I tried to write about all the loss I had suffered. I tried to write stories of all the wrongs that had been done to me.</span></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: x-large;">God wanted me to write about my sin.</span></em></strong></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536033998381370149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3511802632975970114.post-49489625439525744922013-03-29T21:40:00.000-05:002013-05-22T14:24:55.134-05:00The Illinois Masonic Children's Home <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_yOdqFKWBungyPY8L7HAy6VEii21VIMuqeRnfF74tYpbZRs9lOemHWX_GlL9ReA-1zf1y2yHcIFBfQccKwqM8HJlSPmnV_wI0S0x1MAomoAJq8HLrreEelzo1gZJEf9MHVhvPQZ3QogE/s1600/Alison's+Birthday+photos+3+28+12+049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_yOdqFKWBungyPY8L7HAy6VEii21VIMuqeRnfF74tYpbZRs9lOemHWX_GlL9ReA-1zf1y2yHcIFBfQccKwqM8HJlSPmnV_wI0S0x1MAomoAJq8HLrreEelzo1gZJEf9MHVhvPQZ3QogE/s1600/Alison's+Birthday+photos+3+28+12+049.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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This photo hangs in the foyer of the dining hall at the Illinois Masonic Children's Home.I am sitting top and left.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgSaCNoekZ7rQyA-EAdxMt4sIDyt52dLMufuGZZtXMsOteEzDAVF4obi3tfQAgqFZc0oE-xHHSLYTPc2ojLp0bQ06fG-p6Pu7p-U2KuULha1jjfb2xE3-JOHDlN09kzBmWnJ4D-ejKZhwZ/s1600/Blog+contest++29+2013+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgSaCNoekZ7rQyA-EAdxMt4sIDyt52dLMufuGZZtXMsOteEzDAVF4obi3tfQAgqFZc0oE-xHHSLYTPc2ojLp0bQ06fG-p6Pu7p-U2KuULha1jjfb2xE3-JOHDlN09kzBmWnJ4D-ejKZhwZ/s1600/Blog+contest++29+2013+002.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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This is the cover of a small pamphlet from during the time I lived in the home.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgczd4dDgwMocQL7QbM3mnrx9ViENTjChWmyYAO5EyV2_cYmf787sYhvUcnOFLpENxo9FcOHgW1nCL8xqriHqBgJxi3A4S7R5RpbvfzLorrnbE5DQBbIKyltekfvqn_n4kFbrqwl-8wI8hV/s1600/Blog+contest++29+2013+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgczd4dDgwMocQL7QbM3mnrx9ViENTjChWmyYAO5EyV2_cYmf787sYhvUcnOFLpENxo9FcOHgW1nCL8xqriHqBgJxi3A4S7R5RpbvfzLorrnbE5DQBbIKyltekfvqn_n4kFbrqwl-8wI8hV/s1600/Blog+contest++29+2013+001.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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More pictures from the pamphlet above. I sit center page "Alison." I also am the girl wearing the airbrush shirt which interestingly enough has my name again:) God is Funny!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicpGzlRCNeHOnwwuDaUPkQpA34PLoZFrcpWGgMi-Gx4vCnxQAr7WZqxExNwYXdIBGyVshvJYmuREkAd_9rn-mdjLomnqsRr3s5g4LSawL3AQD5zgoy8R81R__qCwqa9n60_OSuE_7L44nu/s1600/Alison's+Birthday+photos+3+28+12+025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicpGzlRCNeHOnwwuDaUPkQpA34PLoZFrcpWGgMi-Gx4vCnxQAr7WZqxExNwYXdIBGyVshvJYmuREkAd_9rn-mdjLomnqsRr3s5g4LSawL3AQD5zgoy8R81R__qCwqa9n60_OSuE_7L44nu/s1600/Alison's+Birthday+photos+3+28+12+025.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Me and my three youngest kids last year on my 39th Birthday. </div>
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The day God gave me his vision for my life.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9N9Eptg8WsrwfMX4scmLta8Z-ep1gLLFe1ABbGZ2Kroe19jfz1AAHPVTXu-VbLNYjYFg2adukTuAYhLXnfaPLsLyG_u7D1xVIJQl8mu9lcJy_YxZ-ww3KDBmsqHSVpkPPQZANYsPxMSut/s1600/Alison's+Birthday+photos+3+28+12+041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9N9Eptg8WsrwfMX4scmLta8Z-ep1gLLFe1ABbGZ2Kroe19jfz1AAHPVTXu-VbLNYjYFg2adukTuAYhLXnfaPLsLyG_u7D1xVIJQl8mu9lcJy_YxZ-ww3KDBmsqHSVpkPPQZANYsPxMSut/s1600/Alison's+Birthday+photos+3+28+12+041.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is the first cottage I lived in. I was 10 years old at the time. I remember climbing out the window in the middle of the night. I would climb up the jungle gym and look at the stars. I just couldn't wrap my mind around why I was all alone.</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536033998381370149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3511802632975970114.post-4575575199433525502013-03-29T19:11:00.003-05:002013-05-27T21:27:40.321-05:00I am writing this post as part of the Summit 9 Blogger Giveaway!<span style="font-size: x-large;">Write a post about why you want to go to Summit 9 in Nashville on May 2-3, 2013</span><br />
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">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. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">Yesterday was my 40th birthday and exactly one year ago from yesterday God gave me a vision for my life. </span></em><em><span style="font-size: large;">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. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">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, <strong>I am writing this post as part of the Summit 9 Blogger giveaway.</strong></span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">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. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">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. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>God reached deep into the pit of my soul and unsettled me in such a way that I've had to take action.</strong></span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">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. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">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<u> </u></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-size: large;"><u><strong>A Voice 4 His Children</strong></u> <a href="http://avoiceforhischildren.blogspot.com/">http://avoiceforhischildren.blogspot.com/</a>.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">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. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">In that moment it occurred to me that God's hand is not cut short.</span></strong> If he wanted to make it happen for me to do both then he could. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">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. </span></em><em><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>God just amazes me over and over again. He truly delights in lavishing his children.</strong></span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">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!</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-size: large;">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.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-size: large;"></span></em><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536033998381370149noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3511802632975970114.post-23821036984449320312013-03-25T20:27:00.000-05:002013-04-01T16:34:46.950-05:00Summit 9 Blogger Contest<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.summit9.org/2013/03/25/summit-9-blogger-contest/"><em>Summit 9 Blogger Contest!</em></a></span><br />
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<a href="http://summit9.org/wp-content/uploads/Blogger-Contes.png"><em><img alt="CAFO Blogger Contest Photos" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2766" src="http://summit9.org/wp-content/uploads/Blogger-Contes.png" height="133" width="640" /></em></a></h2>
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<em>There’s no denying it, Bloggers for Orphans love Summit! Whether you’re there to learn about adoption, foster care, global orphan initiatives or to make meaningful connections with other advocates and families, Summit 9 has something for everyone.</em></div>
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<strong><em>This year we are pleased to announce our first Summit Conference package giveaway just for bloggers!</em></strong></div>
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<em>And we have not one, not two, but THREE prizes to giveaway! How’s that for a grand giveaway?</em></div>
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<em>Contest is NOW OPEN until the close of day on Friday, March 29. Winners will be announced on Tuesday, April 2!</em></div>
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<em>Now here’s the scoop and be sure to read carefully because there is a lot involved.</em></div>
<strong></strong><a href="http://summit9.org/wp-content/uploads/Prizes.png"><em><img alt="Prizes" class="wp-image-2764 aligncenter" src="http://summit9.org/wp-content/uploads/Prizes.png" height="31" width="210" /></em></a><br />
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<li style="text-align: center;"><em>GRAND Prize: 1 Full Conference Registration, Pre-Summit Intensive, and blog will be featured on the CAFO blog</em></li>
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<li><em>FIRST Prize: 1 Full Conference Registration</em></li>
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<li style="text-align: center;"><em>SECOND Prize: 1 Half Price Registration</em></li>
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<a href="http://summit9.org/wp-content/uploads/Eligibility.png"><em><img alt="Eligibility" class="wp-image-2762 aligncenter" src="http://summit9.org/wp-content/uploads/Eligibility.png" height="31" width="210" /></em></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.christianalliancefororphans.org/wp-content/uploads/Blogger-120X120-Widget-2013.png"><em><img alt="Blogger-120X120-Widget-2013" src="http://www.christianalliancefororphans.org/wp-content/uploads/Blogger-120X120-Widget-2013.png" height="97" style="margin: 3px;" width="97" /></em></a></div>
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<em>(1) Like Us on </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CAFOSummit" target="_blank"><em>Facebook</em></a><em> OR Follow Us on </em><a href="https://twitter.com/orphanalliance" target="_blank"><em>Twitter</em></a></div>
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<em><strong> </strong> (2)<strong> AND</strong> Become a Blogger for Orphans (</em><a href="http://www.christianalliancefororphans.org/bloggers-for-orphans/" target="_blank"><em>click here to fill out a simple form</em></a><em>)</em></div>
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<em> (Eligibility requirements will be verified before prizes are awarded.)</em></div>
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<a href="http://summit9.org/wp-content/uploads/Enter.png"><em><img alt="Enter" class="alignnone wp-image-2763" src="http://summit9.org/wp-content/uploads/Enter.png" height="31" width="210" /></em></a><strong></strong></div>
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<em>(1)<strong> WRITE A BLOG POST: </strong>Write a post on your blog about why you want to go to Summit 9. There are SO many reasons, but we want to you why <strong>YOU</strong> want to be in Nashville on May 2-3, 2013!</em></div>
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<em>(2) Blog Post must include the words: “I am writing this post as part of the Summit 9 Blogger Giveaway. Check out all the details at </em><a href="http://www.summit9.org/" target="_blank"><em>www.summit9.org</em></a><em>”.</em></div>
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<em>(3) Come back here and leave a comment on this post with the URL to your post so that we can find it and include it in the contest.</em></div>
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<em>…</em></div>
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<em>Contest will open on the morning of Monday, March 25 until the close of day on Friday, March 29. Winners will be announced on Tuesday, April 2!</em></div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-large;">Hmmmmmmmmmm.....Ok God but first let me get past the skydiving. Also did you happen to notice that most of my blog posts are in draft form?</span></em></div>
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</span><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536033998381370149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3511802632975970114.post-70378114678551603342013-03-19T14:11:00.000-05:002013-04-01T16:35:28.951-05:00Life<img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowliftCaption" class="spotlight" height="400" src="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/379205_10200325472963168_1176718811_n.jpg" style="height: 400px; width: 400px;" width="400" /><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Do you know the purpose of your ONE LIFE?</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536033998381370149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3511802632975970114.post-46530884804224265292013-03-19T14:09:00.000-05:002013-04-01T16:36:31.482-05:00One Parent's Promise<br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I've spent the majority of my life listening to my peers complain about their parents. On and on the grumbling and complaining goes. </span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">How many, many times have I felt the tears well up and my chest constrict as I've quietly thought...I wish I had parents to complain about.</span></em>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536033998381370149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3511802632975970114.post-43602909808477712642013-03-19T14:08:00.000-05:002013-04-01T16:37:21.978-05:00Signing I LOVE YOU<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+13:8&version=NIV"><strong></strong></a> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>[ <strong>Love Fulfills the Law</strong> ] Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.</em></span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+13:8&version=NIV"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em>Romans 13:8</em></span></strong></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536033998381370149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3511802632975970114.post-87960735225202932492013-02-14T11:30:00.001-06:002013-04-01T16:38:06.241-05:00Father's Love Letter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536033998381370149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3511802632975970114.post-83562436016881250452013-02-14T11:30:00.000-06:002013-03-25T19:48:33.379-05:00God's Valentine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+10:12&version=NIV"><strong>Proverbs 10:12</strong></a><br />
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<span class="keywordresultextras"></span>Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+17:9&version=NIV"><strong>Proverbs 17:9</strong></a><br />
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Above all, <b>love</b> each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1 Peter+4:8&version=NIV"><strong>1 Peter 4:8</strong></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"><img class="mainImage" src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4030/4355204058_29953df106.jpg" style="background-color: white; height: 488px; width: 488px;" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536033998381370149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3511802632975970114.post-84748160591756788122013-02-13T23:47:00.000-06:002013-03-29T19:00:44.691-05:00My Favorite Valentine<em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My mom died when I was nine and one of the biggest impressions it made on my life was the idea of making your time on this earth count. Never miss an opportunity to express love.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Last year I decided to get ready for Valentines day early, to make certain I was prepared I bought a card for my husband months in advance. As the special day approached I decorated the house in pink and red and purchased some small gifts for each member of our family. </span></em><em><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Valentines day came and we celebrated with a special dinner to boot!</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Georgia;">At the end of the night after the kids were tucked into bed I approached my husband and said, "I noticed you didn't get me anything for Valentines Day." He confessed that he had forgotten. We bantered back and forth, me telling him how hurt I was and my dear Hubby saying he was sorry. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Georgia;">We both finally retreated. Hubby went to the store to buy me a Valentines day card. I retreated to the bathroom, where I locked the door and slunk down to the floor crying.</span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I heaved bitter tears and sent my laments up to God. I just couldn't understand why God would allow my broken orphaned heart to fall into the hands of a husband who would let me down.</span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">I cried for God to show me I was loved.<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></em><br />
<em><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">When I was finished crying and praying I went into my bedroom to settle myself for the night. For some reason I picked up an old journal that I hadn't touched in years. I opened it up and there I found a Valentines Day card that my mother had given me 30 years prior to the day.</span></span></em><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Georgia;">The card is a precious moments card which reads....<strong>Sew in Love Dear Valentine</strong>. On the inside my mother had penned....<strong>I adore my little March Flower Love, Mom</strong></span></em><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em>I don't know why I get surprised when God answers my prayers so quickly and directly. I guess that I have bought the lie for so long that I'm not loved and that I'll never be. </em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><em><strong>The truth is, God loves me and he loves you too!</strong> People will always let you down at one point in time or another but God will never let you down.</em></span></div>
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“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?version=NIV&search=John 13:34-35" title="John 13:34-35">John 13:34-35</a> <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/index.php?action=getVersionInfo&vid=31" title="New International Version">NIV</a></div>
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<span class="text Ps-90-12" id="en-NIV-15391">Teach us to number our days,<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-15391A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup></span><br />
<span class="indent-1"><span class="indent-1-breaks"> </span><span class="text Ps-90-12">that we may gain a heart of wisdom.Psalm 90:12</span></span></div>
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For,“All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 1 Peter 1:24</div>
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<span class="indent-1"><span class="text Ps-90-12"><sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-15391B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup></span></span> </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536033998381370149noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3511802632975970114.post-88385942185834514542013-02-13T21:57:00.000-06:002013-04-01T16:43:04.946-05:00Orphan Defined<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="text John-14-18" id="en-NIV-26687"><span class="woj"><strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">I will not leave you as orphans;<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26687A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup> I will come to you. John 14:18</span></em></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>or·phan</u></span></h2>
<sup></sup> <span class="pronset"><span audio="http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/dictionary/audio/luna/O01/O0168500.mp3" default="http://dictionary.reference.com/audio.html/lunaWAV/O01/O0168500"></span> <span class="show_ipapr" style="display: none;"><span class="prondelim">/</span><span class="pron">ˈɔr<img alt="" border="0" class="luna-Img" src="http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/dictionary/graphics/luna/thinsp.png" />fən</span><span class="prondelim">/</span> <a class="questionmark" href="http://dictionary.reference.com/help/luna/IPA_pron_key.html" target="_blank"></a> <span class="pron_toggle" style="display: inline;"><a alt="Toggle for Spelled" class="pronlink" href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="Click to show spelled">Show Spelled</a> </span></span><span class="show_spellpr" style="display: inline;"><span class="prondelim">[</span><span class="pron"><span class="boldface">awr</span>-f<span class="ital-inline">uh</span><img alt="" border="0" class="luna-Img" src="http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/dictionary/graphics/luna/thinsp.png" /><img alt="" border="0" class="luna-Img" src="http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/dictionary/graphics/luna/thinsp.png" />n</span><span class="prondelim">]</span> <a class="questionmark" href="http://dictionary.reference.com/help/luna/Spell_pron_key.html" target="_blank"></a> <span class="pron_toggle" style="display: inline;"><a alt="Toggle for IPA" class="pronlink" href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="Click to show IPA">Show IPA</a> </span></span></span> <br />
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<span class="pg"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">noun</span> </span></span> <br />
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<span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">1.</span> </span></span><br />
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<span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">a</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">child</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">who</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">has</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">lost</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">both</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">parents</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">through</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">death,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">or,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">less</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">commonly,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">one</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">parent.</span> </span></div>
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<span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">2.</span> </span></span><br />
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<span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">a</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">young</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">animal</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">that</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">has</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">been</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">deserted</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">by</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">or</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">has</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">lost</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">its</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">mother.</span> </span></div>
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<span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">3.</span> </span></span><br />
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<span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">a</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">person</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">or</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">thing</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">that</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">is</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">without</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">protective</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">affiliation,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">sponsorship,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">etc.:</span> </span><span class="ital-inline"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">The</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">committee</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">is</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">an</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">orphan</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">the</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">previous</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">administration.</span> </span></span> </div>
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<span class="pg"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">adjective</span> </span></span> <br />
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<span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">4.</span> </span></span><br />
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<span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">bereft</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">parents.</span> </span></div>
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<span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">5.</span> </span></span><br />
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<span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">or</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">for</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">orphans:</span> </span><span class="ital-inline"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">an</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">orphan</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">home.</span> </span></span> </div>
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<span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">6.</span> </span></span><br />
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<span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">not</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">authorized,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">supported,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">or</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">funded;</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">not</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">part</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">a</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">system;</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">isolated;</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">abandoned:</span> </span><span class="ital-inline"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">an</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">orphan</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">research</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">project.</span> </span></span> </div>
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<span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">7.</span> </span></span><br />
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<span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">lacking</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">a</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">commercial</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">sponsor,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">an</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">employer,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">etc.:</span> </span><span class="ital-inline"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">orphan</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">workers.</span> </span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536033998381370149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3511802632975970114.post-26354033387628078532013-02-13T13:53:00.000-06:002013-03-29T17:38:15.481-05:00My Life Verse<div class="txt-sm">
<span class="text Jas-1-27" id="en-NIV-30294" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><em></em></span><br />
<span class="text Jas-1-27" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><em>Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30294A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)"></sup> orphans and widows<sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30294B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup> in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. </em></span></div>
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<span class="text Jas-1-27" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30294C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"><em> James 1:27</em></sup></span><br />
<span class="text Jas-1-27" style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-30294C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)"><em><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I didn't pick my life verse. I just found myself sitting in church one day listening to our pastor Darren Whitehead and he quoted James1:27. I almost jumped out of my seat. THAT'S MY LIFE VERSE!!!!! It caught me totally off guard, and that's usually how it is for me when God chooses to open my eyes.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536033998381370149noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3511802632975970114.post-28247877858152392162013-02-13T13:05:00.000-06:002013-02-13T13:05:34.883-06:00Learning How to Blog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This girl is hands on. Writing into a computer doesn't quite feel right to me but if I want my voice to be heard through out the land..........then I'll have to figure this out. <br />
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