Three Will Become Five

Our son and his family -- David, Amy & little Isaac -- are on an adoption journey to bring home two orphans from this extremely impoverished country. Please take time to visit their blog, Ethiopia's Calling to learn more about the challenges faced by children in this country and about their adoption story. Trusting the Lord that their one-child family will soon be a three-child family. Including mom and dad that is definitely 3 or more! (Check out the end of the post for the significance of 3 or more.)



We are all called to reach out to the poor and needy. When we answer that call, special things happen in our spirits that allow us to touch the heart of God. There is no doubt that there is a deep sense of spiritual wellness in that place.

The costs involved in adoption are great on many levels including financial. You may learn about some of that on their blog. We will be suggesting so many ways you may choose to be a part of bringing these children home to their forever family.

There are two big garage sales in the works right now. If you're in the Chicago or Nashville areas I would be happy to share the details on those. I'll also be sharing opportunities in the coming weeks and months in which everyone, if feeling led, may participate. Come back to visit often and watch for exciting happenings (Here is just the beginning.)

• The MOST important thing: Prayer, prayer, and more prayer -- for the children, for Amy, David & Isaac as they prepare to welcome these children into their family, and for the finances needed.
  
• Reopening of my etsy store (all profits will benefit their adoption fund)
• A link to coffee roasters who are combining their passions for fair trade coffee and orphans of Africa -- individual adopting families will benefit from the sales of the coffee
• Many other creative concepts still in development

Will you be one of a very special group of friends who is called and will answer, in whatever way big or small, to unite this family? Looking forward to sharing this journey with you.


I've just discovered The Gypsy's Corner blog, which I am enjoying. Tam, the blogs creator has offered a place to share: Three or more Tuesday.... Please visit Tam's blog, leave a comment. Add a link to your own post. Leave a comment or two on ALIVE! as well. They are always appreciated by all of us who take the time to share.

ALIVE! -- Returning to the Blog World

Last post on health & wellness or anything was May 26th. After a 2 month hiatus, perhaps a little explanation is in order.

With thanksgiving to an awesome Heavenly Father who provides healing and makes us ALIVE! in Him, I'm still here to give Him the glory.

A fine line between life and death...an allergic reaction gone terribly bad in early June, found me in the hospital receiving super gargantuan mega-doses of the drugs I prefer to avoid. With a diagnosis of strep induced toxic shock syndrome and celluliltis, I'm very grateful that these were available as a life saving measure.

For someone who just doesn't do sick well at all, the patience it is taking to arrive at complete recovery has been challenging indeed. The first month was just a blur. As I've begun working again and keeping the grandchildren a bit, I'm slowly getting back into my routines. That means ALIVE! will come back to life!!!!

Looking forward to sharing more great thoughts on life and living it to the fullest -- making the most of each new day, and finding ways to stay healthy and well in body, mind, and spirit. Meet me here. Kindly, leave comments along the way.

*Photo from www.stockvault.net

Sing & Dance for Your One True Valentine!

Hallelujah! Sing to God a brand-new song,
praise him in the company of all who love him.
Let all Israel celebrate their Sovereign Creator,
Zion's children exult in their King.
Let them praise his name in dance;
strike up the band and make great music!
And why? Because God delights in his people,
festoons plain folk with salvation garlands!
Psalm 149:1-3 (THE MESSAGE)

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Foot Washing -- A Humble Service

Thursday evening of Holy Week -- Jesus served His disciples by washing their feet. That's not considered a very pleasant task. They walked dusty roads on their sandaled feet. The dust that hopped into their shoes, mixed with sweat on their feet from the warm climate would have made for some caked on mud. It's a good bet they may have sported blisters and callouses besides -- perhaps cracked skin. Yet Jesus possessed the humility for the task in spite of His status as God Incarnate.

In a Bible study session recently someone commented about our individual willingness to wash feet if that is the task God has prepared for us to do.

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:8-10

My thoughts at that moment were, "God did plan for me to wash feet. Well not wash them exactly, but certainly to rub and massage them. As He has led me to the place where reflexology is a way of serving others, I'm also able to bring a touch of His love to their lives. Placing it in this Jesus' Light, brings a whole new dimension of understanding to the Thursday events of that first Holy Week. I'm humbled to offer myself for the task of this good thing He had planned for me long ago.

Words You Say to Yourself

Our women's Sunday School class has recently begun studying the book, SELF TALK, SOUL TALK, by Jennifer Rothschild. A very key scripture of this study is the verse:

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer." Psalm 19:14.

As you have considered this familiar verse have you ever thought about it including the words you say to yourself? What a total slap in the face of the God who created us when we call ourselves names like "Idiot," "Stupid," "Dumb," "Not Good Enough," etc. Anything less than speaking the truth of who we are in Him is language enough to bring us to our knees, breaking our hearts as we consider the wounds we have inflicted upon His.

It is amazing to me how often I awake with the voices from the past who have called me some of those names, speaking over and over again. The voices become my voice. I find myself crying out to God for forgiveness, and courage to seek and know and most of all believe THE TRUTH.

The verse above along with another treasured scripture have been my focus. Ephesians 2:10 tells us,

"We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

He created us and he has work for us. We have a purpose, and we are not dumb, stupid, or not good enough. He's expecting big things. Will we speak these words of truth to our spirits, and believe that He is sufficient in us to bring life through us?!

You might find some wonderful food for thought on the subject of the words we speak to ourselves at Jennifer's Self Talk, Soul Talk blog.

The Finest of Healthy Relationships

Relationships -- the last couple of entries mention these a few times. Please allow me to share a brief devotion I read recently about the most important relationship of all. Whatever gifts you give and in whatever way you celebrate the season, please know and remember

The relationship for which we were made, the relationship our heart never ceases to crave, is very specific. We are barely into the first chapter of the story when we encounter a significant fact: "Let Us make man in Our image." Making man was a relational affair from the very beginning. We were born in the womb of the greatest relationship the galaxies have ever known. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit . . . God made us for Himself.

Fawn Parish
It's All About You, Jesus

He who loves Me will be loved by My Father. John 14:21