Hey all!
Today I'm sharing a post at Future Flying Saucers about the financial miracles God orchestrated while we were in the adoption process with Max. A lot of you have heard those stories. But I'm willing to bet that some of you have not. This is for those of you who are looking for a reason to boast about what your God can do...
Three years ago, I was a mother of 3 slightly, ornery children, with
my eye on a six year old Russian boy who was the spitting image of my
husband.
This particular little boy came to us through a local hosting
program. He stayed with us for two weeks that summer. Predictably, we
couldn’t stomach the thought of what would happen to this little guy if
we did not make a place for him at our table.
But.
International adoption is not cheap. Especially those Russian adoptions.
So there we were, a family of 5, presented with a little boy who had
a $47,000 price tag on his head – nearly a year’s worth of income for
our family – and no way to pay for his ticket home.
So we counted all our pennies, squinted at our financial resources
and scratched our heads as we tried to figure out how to pay for this
kid.
The best we could figure was we needed to raise at least $9,000 to
cover the gap between what he would cost and the amount we could
scrounge together in a year’s time.
So we took the blind leap. We strategized our fundraising plan. We
put together an army of people who wanted to help us with our crazy
task. We managed to raise about $7,000 through our various fundraising
endeavors. But halfway through our campaign our church decided to make
a “no fundraising policy”, effectively sinking nearly all of my event
plans.
Which meant no more fund raising money. And we were still $2,000 short. With no real way to get it.
But we clung to the promise that it was all a part of the plan. That
God was going to provide, and He didn’t need my plans to do it.
So out of ideas and nearly out of money we did what anyone would do.
Cried out to God and twiddled our thumbs while we waited for Him to
show up.
Oh this is the best part. You know God's going to show up, right? But what he did next is going to give you goosebumps.
Even if you already know, go read it again. Remember what my God can do. You'll get goosebumps all over again. I promise. The rest of the story is here.
Alright guys,
I'm happy to say that more people entered to win this book than any other giveaway I've ever had. Which is exciting for me, but not so exciting for all those people who are eager to get their hands on this book.
Sorry bout that.
Anyway. Here are my winners! So happy for you ladies! Be sure to email me at photosformax (at) yahoo.com with your contact info so I can pass it on to the publishers who will get your book out to you.
Which according to my master list is Angela Holland
Which is Mary Gronzo
Which is Becky Marie
Yea!! So happy for you ladies!! And for everyone else. Here's the link to find it on amazon Housewife Theologian
Hey there friends! I'm so excited to share this little post with you. Today we have an exclusive interview with Aimee Byrd (which makes me feel so fancy I can barely stand to be me.)
Anyway.
Here are some words from Ms. Byrd that you wont find anywhere else on the web. (Wee!!)
EP: Hello!
Welcome to my humble little bloggity blog. I'm so glad you're here!
AB: Thank
you for the opportunity to share a little bit about my book with your readers.
EP:Where
did you come up with the idea to write your book?
AB: The
idea for my book came from a need that I perceived in my own community. When my
kids started attending school, I realized that although many families attended
church, their faith was based more on good, Christian morals than actual
theological knowledge about who God is. In my friendships, I was discovering
that all us women struggle with many of the same issues, but we needed a tool
to help us encourage one another in the gospel. I wrote my book to raise
awareness of how our theology shapes our everyday living.
EP: What
was the most challenging part of writing this book?
AB: It
took me five years from when I started to write the book to holding the
beautiful, published product it in my hands. When I began, my son was still a
toddler, so I had very little time to write. There would be large blocks of
time where I just didn’t write all because I didn’t want to miss out on time
with my little guy, and I was just as tired as he was at the end of the day!
When he started school, I plugged away to finish the book. But then came the
challenge of finding a publisher, and going through that whole process.
It
was also difficult and lonely because I didn’t know one other writer. I told
very few people that I was writing a book, because to them it sounded the same
as if I said I wanted to try out for American Idol. As you might imagine, there
was a lot of prayer involved.
EP: Got
any advice for struggling sinners like me?
AB: The
more we learn from God’s Word, the more we can hold fast to our confession of
hope, because we really do see that he who promised is faithful (Hebrew 10:23).
And our confession is that even though we are sinners, God sent his Son Jesus
Christ, who lived a perfect life on our behalf and bore the curse for our sin
on the cross. He died the death we deserved. Three days later he rose from the
dead, and is now sitting at the right hand of the Father interceding on behalf
of all those who trust in him for salvation. He will return for his bride, the
church, and we will be given new, incorruptible bodies to rule with him on the
new heavens and the new earth. Even now, he is sovereignly ruling to carry out
his plan. Everything is working for his glory and our good, which is to be
transformed into his likeness.
EP: How
does your book contribute to making this world a better place?
AB: Well
that is a tall order! I believe that my book, Housewife Theologian, glorifies God by helping women to better
understand their vocations, roles, sexuality, influence in the world, growth in
grace, unity and identity in Christ, membership in his church, and service in
discipleship. When read and studied together, my book
will facilitate growth in mentoring and discipleship, and an opportunity to
share with one another both your successes and failures as you discover how the
gospel interrupts the ordinary.
EP: Where
can we find more from you?
AB: Well,
I have a blog, www.housewifetheologian.com, that I update about
three days a week. I also contribute to The Council for Biblical Manhood and
Womanhood’s website (http://cbmw.org). I will be a guest host on the Alliance
of Confessing Evangelical’s podcast, Mortification of Spin, http://info.alliancenet.org/mos/podcast/saved-grace-theologian-default, on a semi-regular
basis. I’m also working on another book, Theological
Fitness, published by P&R.
EP: Thank
you again for this interview! Do you have any parting words to share with us?
AB: I’m grateful to be featured on your blog today,
thanks to your readers for taking the time to learn a little bit about my book.
Really, the main premise that I want to get across is that every married woman
is a housewife, and every person is a theologian. Whether we work outside of
the home or not, women share in their responsibility to the culture in their
homes. We should help one another in encouragement. That is why it is
beneficial to include even singles, divorced, and widowed women in this group
as well. And we are all theologians. In John 17:3, Jesus prays, “And this is
eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you
have sent.” Knowing God is an eternal matter. The question is not whether we
are theologians, but whether we are good ones or bad ones. I would like to help
us be good ones!
And I do have 3 copies to of this book to giveaway! Leave me a comment (here or on my facebook page if the comment tool isn't working) here to enter!
This week we're talking about a brand new book titled Housewife Theologian by Aimee Byrd.
In this book Ms. Byrd helps us find meaning in the most mundane moments of life. She strives to empower us, as women, to see our position as wives and mothers, as a noble calling. To evaluate our Christian walk and embrace the term theologian as we attempt to know God as intimately as possible.
I found this book gentle and charming. I loved the way the the author used scripture to lead me through things that I deal with on a regular basis. The thoughts and insecurities that swirl through my brain, the interactions I have with friends, children, and my darling Jory (who isn't always that darling.)
I also loved how she closed each chapter with journaling questions to be used (and shared) in a workshop format with a friend or two who may need to talk through what they've read.
So the best news ever, I have three copies to give away this week. One for you, and if you have two friends who would benefit from this, talk them into entering so they have a chance to win too.
(Did that make sense? One book per winner.Your beautiful charming friends also have to enter if they want to win.)
But I hope they do enter, because I want you to have girls coffee time with your journals and the good conversations that this book has to offer. So go get your friends already.
Gimme a comment here or on my facebook fan page (the comment thingy is temperamental, if you don't see your comment, I didn't get it!) and I'll pick a winner on Friday night! Yea!
Today we have an exciting treat for you, I've opted to host an adoption blog carnival with some of my fabulous adoptive blogger Mama pals. You may recognize a few of them as old friends who've shared their wisdom with you before.
Enjoy!
International
adoption usually includes both a new family and a big move to a new country
in one fell swoop. In Kim Smith from Asia Ramblin's
case those events were separated by a year, and gave us a heartbreaking look
into the fear of abandonment that she still battles.
The authors at Ordinary time share with us a few words that I totally get about how clutter in our homes affects our children from hard places.
And...
Suzanne Meledeo from Surpassing Greatness helps us consider how some children feel being ripped from all they have ever known for a whole new life. More adventures with special needs adoptions
With as many secrets as I’ve shared with you people, I feel
like you, my loyal readers, know me better than most people I see on a daily
basis. Those people who are just a little too whatever to invest their time in reading what I write.
But do you really know me?
I’m all about sharing my deep inner workings with you, but
past my deep crazy love for Jesus, and my floundering attempts to parent with
grace, I don’t know that you really know me.
So you can call it a fluff post if you want, but here are 5
things you probably didn’t know about me when you woke up this morning.
My middle name is Rachel. I really like that name. I don’t
know why I didn’t consider passing that name on to one of my babies. Maybe I’ll
get a grandbaby with that name. In 20 years.
I hate watching movies. And generally all tv with plot lines,
except MacGyver. My idea of watching tv is pulling up some old 80’s sitcom on
Netflix to listen to while I’m tap-tappin away on the keyboard, or if I need a
nap. TV isn’t for watching. It’s for listening to.
I don’t like cooking. Or eating. Weird. I know. Food in
general bores me. I’d rather be reading. Which I usually am when I sit down
with a plate of food – because sometimes my belly does insist that I pay
attention to it whether I want to or not.
I secretly have an extremely rebellious heart. I might be
the picture of a people pleaser, but I secretly breathe fire at people who try
tell me what to do. Which is probably why I’ve never sought professional
employment. And I home school. And I refuse to live in a neighborhood with an
HOA. Ain’t nobody but Jesus gonna tell me what color to paint my shed. Sorry.
I’m crazy insecure about the photos I take. Like way more
insecure about the images I share than any of the words I’ve ever send out.
Which is totally weird because I want my words to be my legacy, and the pics
are just a fun filler. Go figure.
So now you know. Did you gather any of those tidbits as you
read between the lines of my quirkiness? I’d love to know you more, so share
something about yourself with me in the comment section.
Hey all! Over the last few weeks we've been talking about finding God in the mundane. Today I'm so thrilled to share about God showing up in an ordinary moment of life from my blogging buddy Anne Marie Gosnell. Isn't she fabulous? Check her out.
I finished brushing my teeth, dropped the toothbrush in the holder, took one last look in the mirror, and formed the words I was going to say in my head. I walked into the living room and was justified. My son had been playing with his army men instead of putting on his soccer socks and shoes.
Exasperated, I said, "The next time you try to tell me something, I don't think I'm going to listen to you. I tell you to do something, and you ignore me. How do you think it will feel when I don't do as you ask?" Heated, I walked back into my bedroom and then the Truth hit me in the gut.
Daughter, how many times have I tried to tell you something? How many times have I tried to meet with you in the quietness and busyness of the day? And yet you do not listen to me. How many times have I answered your prayers, but they aren't answers you want to hear? And so you ignore Me. Remember the Israelites? Over and over again they did not heed My words and commands. And, unfortunately, it came to the point when I would not listen to their groanings any longer. Remember the desert? Remember the exile? Child, I want what is best for you, but you must listen. Be still, and know that I am God.
I walked back into the living room. My son did manage to have one shoe on a foot and one sock on the other. Instead of being irritated, I humbly, and quietly, told my son to get his other shoe and go to the van. Mercy, grace, and discipline. None of these come cheaply. And they aren't carelessly given out. The cost was blood that was spilled over two thousand years ago. The cost was love. How can I not choose to be still and know the God who loves me? I need to listen, and I need to obey. I need to make myself quiet and cease saying prayers that only fill up the air around me. Reader, prayer is two way communication. If you don't think God is hearing you, maybe it's because you need to listen for a little while.
Anne Marie is an Austenite and the author of the blog Future.Flying.Saucers. She is a southern belle who is married to her Mr. Darcy. They have two of the silliest children in South Carolina. Anne Marie has a passion for Bible study and teaching the Word to adults and children. On Wednesday nights you will find her teaching Biblical concepts to Awana clubs at her church. All of her Awana and Bible lessons can be found for FREE on her blog. You can also find her on Facebook. -- Blog: http://futureflyingsaucers.wordpress.com/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FutureFlyingSaucers
Aka I passed my thousandth blog post about a month ago, but
I’ve had all my posts between now and then planned and scheduled and nowhere to
plop this post except for right here. So here it is.
This is the point where most people plan some sort of link
up or ginormous giveaway so that people will be impressed with their level of
commitment.
But I stopped trying to impress you all a long time ago. So
I’m not doing that.
Instead I’d like to invite you to go back to my first few
posts with me. Back when I had a van full of car seats and pacifiers. When my fourth child existed, but was not yet
on my radar. I don’t really want to think about what little Max’s life was like
when I started this old bloggity. So we’ll just keep going.
I’d like to go back to those early posts and shove all those
words back into my mouth. All the prideful whining about having 3 small
children. All the failed lessons God tried to teach me through my struggles.
Lessons that flew right over my head at the time.
I’d like to pretend that every single post I’ve shared with
you was witty and charming. That I only shared words that made you stop and
think about what you are doing and why. Life changing posts that spurred you
towards Jesus.
But I know better. And I imagine you do also.
So instead of pretending I have my act together as a writer
I’m going to point out that I don’t. And the proof is here for you to read.
Selfish posts, angry posts, just plain boring posts. Posts that prove I’m not
the person I was when I started putting these words together 8 years ago.
I’d like to think that in order for one to recognize her own
growth, she has to recognize that she used to be full of crap.
Or so they say. Maybe. Ok, I just made that up. But it’s
true. My words used to be crap. Perhaps they still are. But the difference
between the me as a writer - now, and the me as a writer – then is the
realization that I just might be full of crap.
And isn’t that the mark that we all shoot for, recognizing
your own crappiness and trying your best to sensor it?
Oy.
Here’s to less crap. Won’t you stay with me a few moments
longer as I try to grow less crappy.