Flag Day

This summer instead of sending the boys to a Day Camp or Daycare, we're having Daddy Day Camp.  It's been awesome so far.  We've done a bundle of projects and fun activities.  Today was Flag Day.

We've had these flags for a couple years...at least since we bought our house... but just never put them up.  We even bought the mounting brackets a year ago.  I decided that today was Flag Day.


This is the BEFORE picture of the front porch.

 

Here "the boys" get started on the back porch.  You will notice that there are two long dial rods and a hockey stick.  We figured that we would use a hockey stick for the Canadian flag as that would be most appropriate.  Please note:  It's a Lemieux stick!

Corban wraps himself in the Ethiopian flag waiting for Daddy to get started.

Almost done!!!  The boys taking ownership of the Ethiopian Flag.

Mommy didn't know this was the project for today.  She came home surprised.  O Canada, my home and native land.....

This picture is just obligitory because of the previous two.  Sorry you have to see my disheveled mug.

It is done!  The new look of our house! (with Tobiah dancing on the porch)

Thank you God for bringing us together from far away places.  We are proud of where we have come from and glad to be together!

Isaiah 43

Isaiah 43 

But now, this is what the Lord says—
    he who created you, Jacob,
    he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
² When you pass through the waters,
    I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
    they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
    you will not be burned;
    the flames will not set you ablaze. 
 These are verses that we claim for our child.  God has or is creating our child, God knows their name and they are His, even before we know them.  Prior to our child being adopted there are difficult things he/she will be struggling through that we currently don't know about.  God does.  God is there and will see him/her through.  In spite of those difficult circumstances God is seeing a path clear for our child, and will be redeeming their situation.

³ For I am the Lord your God,

    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;

I give Egypt for your ransom,

    Cush^[a] and Seba in your stead.

⁴ Since you are precious and honored in my sight,

    and because I love you,

I will give people in exchange for you,

    nations in exchange for your life.

⁵ Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
    I will bring your children from the east
    and gather you from the west. 
This is a verse for us!

⁶ I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’

    and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’

Bring my sons from afar

    and my daughters from the ends of the earth —
Bring our sons from afar?...daughters from the ends of the earth?  We're not making this up!  

⁷ everyone who is called by my name,

    whom I created for my glory,

    whom I formed and made. ”

⁸ Lead out those who have eyes but are blind,
    who have ears but are deaf.
⁹ All the nations gather together
    and the peoples assemble.
Which of their gods foretold this
    and proclaimed to us the former things?
Let them bring in their witnesses to prove they were right,
    so that others may hear and say, “It is true.”
¹⁰ “You are my witnesses, ” declares the Lord,
    “and my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe me
    and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
    nor will there be one after me.
¹¹ I, even I, am the Lord,
    and apart from me there is no savior.
¹² I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—
    I, and not some foreign god among you.
You are my witnesses, ” declares the Lord, “that I am God.
¹³     Yes, and from ancient days I am he.
No one can deliver out of my hand.
    When I act, who can reverse it?”

God’s Mercy and Israel’s Unfaithfulness

¹⁴ This is what the Lord says—
    your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
“For your sake I will send to Babylon
    and bring down as fugitives all the Babylonians,^[b]
    in the ships in which they took pride.
¹⁵ I am the Lord, your Holy One,
    Israel’s Creator, your King. ”

¹⁶ This is what the Lord says—

    he who made a way through the sea,

    a path through the mighty waters,

¹⁷ who drew out the chariots and horses,

    the army and reinforcements together,

and they lay there, never to rise again,

    extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:

¹⁸ “Forget the former things;
    do not dwell on the past.
¹⁹ See, I am doing a new thing!
    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland.
²⁰ The wild animals honor me,
    the jackals and the owls,
because I provide water in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland,
to give drink to my people, my chosen,
²¹     the people I formed for myself
    that they may proclaim my praise. 
vs 18-21 spoke to Aaron particularly, as God is doing a new thing in our lives, pulling us from our comfort zones.  God is going to provide water/a way/money where there is none.  So that we can praise Him, so that the wild animals will not need to.   We want all the praise to go to God for the work He is doing. 

²² “Yet you have not called on me, Jacob,
    you have not wearied yourselves for^[c] me, Israel.
²³ You have not brought me sheep for burnt offerings,
    nor honored me with your sacrifices.
I have not burdened you with grain offerings
    nor wearied you with demands for incense.
²⁴ You have not bought any fragrant calamus for me,
    or lavished on me the fat of your sacrifices.
But you have burdened me with your sins
    and wearied me with your offenses.

²⁵ “I, even I, am he who blots out
    your transgressions, for my own sake,
    and remembers your sins no more.
²⁶ Review the past for me,
    let us argue the matter together;
    state the case for your innocence.
²⁷ Your first father sinned;
    those I sent to teach you rebelled against me.
²⁸ So I disgraced the dignitaries of your temple;
    I consigned Jacob to destruction^[d]
    and Israel to scorn.

The Movie Club: A Goal

So last week I introduced the idea of The Movie Club. 

At first we heard from no one.  Then one.  Then two.

As I type this we're up to 6!  I'm stoked.  But 4 of those have come in the last 24 hours.  Which makes me believe there is more potential than just 6.

When I introduced the Movie Club, I didn't have a goal.  I just put it out there.  X number of people.  Now I want a target to shoot for.  I want to see 20.
 
We have a week and a half until July 1 when I'm
gonna send out the first notice.  Something just tells me that this is an obtainable goal.

To recap (for those who missed the first post) the Movie Club:  We will send you a reminder (via e-mail, text or Facebook) at the beginning of every month for 5 months.  We'll only remind you once.  Payment is on you...we won't hound you.  You can pay via the Donate Button, The Tax Exempt Button, or if you live close enough you can just hand us cash or check.

Our initial thought for the Movie Club was 10 dollars a month....roughly the cost of a movie and some popcorn.  If you wanna vary that, you know that we're flexible.  We already had one person pay all 5 months ahead of time so we don't have to remind them.  Whatever you want.

Already part of the Movie Club? Your new goal is to find someone else to jump on board.

Answers to Help

This was obviously written before it was posted.

Today (Sunday) definitely was an answer to the prayers of 'help' from yesterday.

We were feeling very discouraged yesterday, particularly with fundraising plans.  Some plans of ours, that we were counting on, began to look like they weren't going to happen as we had expected.

So today, these are some of the things that occurred that have encouraged us.

First of all our pastor's sermon was very spot on, for our needs.  He talked about waiting for God despite the circumstances, and not trying to control things ourselves.  We were reminded that God is bigger than our plans. Since He called us to this task, He is going to see a way through it, even when we don't.

Secondly our pastor reminded us that it is okay to admit the truth- that we struggle and doubt, and need God's intervention.  Thank you for praying with us.

Thirdly some friends of ours, stopped by to hear what is going on and encourage us.  We brainstormed, talked through some of what we are doing and what is and isn't working in regards to fundraising.  Some things we were affirmed on and for some we need to branch out.

Fourth we were given a monetary gift.  A gift that was part of a fund, started before Marjorie and I were born!  Forget "I knit you together in your mother's womb" (Psalm 139:13)...this is, "I am knitting your family together before you are even knit together in your mother's womb."  The gift had a story with it, and is now very much apart of our story as well.  This gift was timed (by God) to confirm to us, that yes God has a plan, and He is working it out, just as we heard this am in church.

God is good!  All the time!

The Movie Club

This is my good friend J.  (and yes we're unintentionally wearing the same shirt) (I yes I really needed a hair cut in this picture)

J is another youth pastor here in town.  He and I partner in ministry in so many different ways.  Beyond that, we're just good buds.

J shared with me that he and his wife would like to partner with us by doing the "movie thing".  He was referring to my post about Small Things and Big Things where I said that if a bundle of people would give 10 dollars a month for 5 months, that would add up to a lot.  J and I just went to see the Avengers together so it kind of seemed relevant to both of our lives.

But then he said, "can you remind me every month?"  At first I laughed him off but the more I thought about it the more I realized he was serious and perhaps others needed that kind of reminder.

So here's what I'm proposing.

The Movie Club.  Pretty simple really.

-You commit to donate 10 dollars a month  (one movie with popcorn a month).  You can contact us via e-mail or Facebook and we will remind you at the beginning of every month.  We're not going to harp on you if we don't get your payment, we'll only remind you once.  When 5 months is over, we'll stop reminding you.  (if you can't do 10 dollars how about 5 dollars....that's like a movie rental and candy)

You can make payment in person with cash or check.  You can send payment to us at our house.  You can use paypal via the DONATE button in the right column.  You can do it anonymously through YWAM for a tax deductible gift....which also now has a button the right.

BONUS CHALLENGE:  What if every adult in your house took THE MOVIE CLUB challenge?

BONUS BONUS CHALLENGE:  Let's be realistic here, it's not like you're not going to go see the summer blockbusters on account of us.  When you do go however, as you're handing your money under that little piece of glass, take a moment and pray for our journey through this adoption.  Maybe even share with those you're watching the movie with what God's doing in our lives too.

Tax Deductible Giving

EDIT 6/9/13:  At this time we're closing the Tax Deductible Option of our fundraising.  It's increasingly hard for us to keep track of the money that YWAM is holding.  Sorry for any inconvenience.


Not long ago, we introduced the Donate button in the right side-bar.  This is an easy way to donate via Paypal.  I have also said a couple times that we would be giving you information if you wish to get a tax deduction for your donation.  This is that information.

If you'd like donate to our adoption and get a tax receipt for it so you can write it off there is an easy way to do that. You CAN NOT use the donate button however. 

One of the joys of this...beyond the tax deduction is that you can also use credit cards if you should choose. 

Checks will be payable to “Adoption Ministry of YWAM” and sent to:

 

Adoption Ministry of YWAM

P.O. Box 512

Puyallup, WA  98371

 

-You CAN NOT put our name anywhere on the check.  You must however send a note along with the check with our name on it designated that it go toward our adoption expenses.

You will get a tax receipt for tax purposes.

 For ease you can save the image below and print it out. 

Help

I'm not going to promote this post.  So only the people who signed up for updates or stumble back to our blog will read it. We'll probably delete it later.

We woke up frustrated this morning.  There is clearly a Spirit of Discouragement in the air of our house.  We're early on this process and we're already feeling walls come up and things fighting against us.  We aren't sure how to move forward.

We need people on their knees for us this morning.  We really need some discernment with how we're going to proceed and if we should proceed.  Would you bring us before God's throne today?