Don't You Know Who You Are?

You are God's blood-bought child. He trades your filthy rags of shame for glowing white robes of righteousness. He silences the voice of your accuser. He stuns your guilt with His forgiveness. Where there is fear He speaks power to trample it. Where there is mundane and monotony He speaks purpose and expectancy. He replaces your timidity with courage. He overwhelms your questions of self-worth with new identity. "This is the way. Walk in it," He says. He rejoices over you - His sheep once lost but now found. Weep over the deadly peril that once held you in captivity. Consider what you once were: a prisoner of darkness. The enemy prowled around you promising condemnation and judgment. He chained you, enslaved you, wanting to devour you as his own. But God. BUT GOD pulled you from the grave. Mourn over the cost of your salvation. And then rejoice. Rejoice in your death row pardon. He remembers your sins no more. He quiets your doubts with His Spirit that testifies deep in your soul - that place where His cross and your repentance meet. He is your King. His inheritance for you awaits. You will retire on His riches. Dance now in your freedom. For you have crossed over from death to life. Once estranged, now reconciled. Once fatherless, now a child of the Most High. His heartbeat resonates in your bones. His anthem sings over your soul, “I’ll call nobodies and make them somebodies. I’ll call the unloved and make them beloved.” You who were once far away have been brought to His throne of grace by the blood of Christ. With confidence you may approach. For through Him, you have gained access to the Father. Blessed assurance dear child. You are spoken for.

Attention Area High Schoolers

 

The Change Movement is a 2 hour event tomorrow evening (Friday, April 12th) from 7-9pm being held at Valley High School in West Des Moines. The event has been organized by central Iowa Christian athletes including Madi Robson and company. Every life matters, and what exactly you do with that life can impact other people. That is the message behind The Change Movement. My hubs is the key note speaker. This event is for EVERY HIGH SCHOOLER! May you come and experience the anthem of identity, purpose, and worth found in Jesus. You can read more about this event HERE.

Cue the Hallelujah Choir!

I was just contacted by a family who feels led to donate THE REST OF THE AMOUNT NEEDED TO REACH CHRISTIAN’S GRACE FUND GOAL!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! That is over a $2000 donation. Out of nowhere. My heart is racing so fast. Not only that, but I’ve received word from the Litzke’s that Christian’s visa can be picked up on THIS FRIDAY!!!!!!!!! God is on the move people. Christian. Is. Coming. Home.

Praise the LORD, my soul.
I will praise the LORD all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

Do not put your trust in princes,
in human beings, who cannot save.
When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;
on that very day their plans come to nothing.
Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD their God.

He is the Maker of heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them—
he remains faithful forever.
He upholds the cause of the oppressed
and gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets prisoners free,
the LORD gives sight to the blind,
the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down,
the LORD loves the righteous.
The LORD watches over the foreigner
and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

The LORD reigns forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.

Praise the LORD.

~Psalm 146~

Christian's GRACE Fund Update!

Just received an update from the AAI office ~ 3 donations have come in for Christian totaling $575!!!! Whoop whoop! That takes care of March and April foster care fees ($300 total), with $275 to begin taking a crack at those plane tickets! Thank you to those who have donated so far! $2,925 to go!!!!!!!!!

Almost Home

 

I wanted to once again ask for your help in aiding ‘my boy’ Christian home to his forever family. It was two years ago now that I met Christian in Ghana – abandoned by his biological parents, living as an orphan, blinded in one eye from abuse, and carrying a past that no one would ever want to bear. But what got to me most was his engaging personality that evidenced a heart of perseverance and joy - despite what he had been through. God kept bugging me about Christian, and I knew I was to help him, and that help would eventually come by getting him on the adoption track. Despite his special needs and older age (usually the last orphans that people want to adopt) a family ~ the Litzke’s ~ stepped up and opened their arms, opened their hearts, and opened their checkbook to this boy and his adoption. Adoption is expensive. No average income family has the money sitting around to fund an international adoption. The Litzke’s have had to rely on donations and fundraisers in order to fund this adoption – which is quite a humbling, trying, and yet faith-rousing position to be in. They are now to the very end of the process, waiting on the issuance of Christian’s visa. The final expenses for Christian’s adoption process still remain to be raised, and I plea for your help in donating ANY amount (large or small) that the Lord lays on your heart. I’ve prayed and asked Him to lay specific amounts on hearts. If you get a number in your head, the Lord sent it and I pray that you will act on it cheerfully as God’s agent. I am hoping to help the Litzke’s raise a total of $3500 which will go towards plane tickets (estimated $2500), March and April foster care fees ($150/month), as well as pulling together the other miscellaneous travel expenses (like lodging) which will incur once they can travel to Ghana to bring home their boy.

You can donate online by clicking HERE. Once on the donation page you will need to select GRACE fund, and type “Christian” in the donation designation text box below.

You can also mail a check to the Adoption Advocates International office – just specify “Christian’s GRACE fund” in the memo line. Here is the address:

Adoption Advocates International
709 S. Peabody St.
Port Angeles, WA 98362

If you would like to get caught up to speed on just who this Christian is, you can read many of the previous posts I’ve written on him HERE, although these are not arranged in order of date.

Praying him home...