Before The Morning by Josh Wilson

The story behind the song "Before the Morning."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0704_oGFX1w&feature=player_embedded

I HATE ______!

Some notes from Fuse* 2 weeks ago. The series is called "Wasted" and the subject was "I HATE _______!

John 12:25 says - Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever HATES his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

"If you don't hate your life, then you waste your life."

Luke 14:26 says - If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, his wife and children, and brothers, and sisters - yes, even his own life - he cannot be my deciple.

"There are way too many "Christians" in the world and not enough Disciples."

"Get rid of unhealthy relationships! Leave then behind and come and follow me! -Jesus

Here is a good question for us to ask ourselves : What are you chasing after more intentley than Jesus Christ?

One thing I absolutely HATE is my obsession with comfortability. After reading the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and the fiery furnace, (and so many others) I realize that it deffinately wasn't comfortable for them to refuse to bow down to the gold image or walk into the furnace... but Jesus was in there and that is who they wanted to be with. I have learned that Jesus didn't die on the cross for us so that we can live a comfortable and WASTED life. Standing up for Jesus isn't always that comfortable! But it is the right thing to do!

"The Son of God will always show up for those people who stand up for Him!"

Another thing I HATE is my obsession with image. I keep reminding myself that I was put on this Earth to bring glory to God and God alone, and not myself! So why do I spend so much time and energy on, well, me.?.

"There are alot of gods that we construct and worship because we are all consumed with our own status and image. Some of us spend more time in one day trying to figure out what we are going to wear and getting ready than an entire week of time spent with Jesus."

I no longer what to be obsessed with my comfortability and image but instead be obsessed with being obeident to Jesus!

Luke 14:33 says - So therefore, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

What do you Hate??

Hello!

WOW! It has been like two and a half months since i posted. So i am well overdue! I thought i would post about the story of Zac Smith. His story is truly amazing.

Zac Smith stepped into eternity and went home to be with Jesus on Sunday, May 16, 2010.

Foster Care Adoption

Foster Care Adoption Facts

On any given day in North America, nearly 550,000 children are in the foster care system, and more than 150,000 of them are available for adoption, just waiting for the right family to find them.

• There are 463,000 children in the U.S. foster care system; 123,000 of these children are available for adoption. Their birth parent's legal rights have been permanently terminated and children are left without a family.

• More children become available for adoption each year than are adopted. In 2008, 75,000 children had parental rights terminated by the courts, yet only 55,000 were adopted.

• Children often wait five years or more to be adopted., move three or more times in foster care and often are separated from siblings. The average age of waiting children is eight years old.

• Each year, one in five children (29,516 in 2008) who are available for adoption turn 18 and leave the foster care system without a family.

• Adopting from foster care is affordable. Most child welfare agencies cover the costs of home studies and court fees, and provide post-adoption subsidies. Thousands of employers offer financial reimbursement and paid leave for employees who adopt and Federal and/or state adoption tax credits are available to most families.

• Every child is adoptable. Many children in foster care have special needs. All of them deserve the chance to grow up in a safe, loving, permanent home. Support and other post-adoption resources are available.

• Adopting from foster care is permanent. Once a child is adopted out of foster care, the birth parents cannot attempt to claim them or fight in court for their return. A family formed through foster care adoption is forever.

• According to a National Adoption Attitudes Survey commissioned by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, 63 percent of Americans hold a favorable view of adoption and 78 percent think more should be done to encourage adoption.

• Nearly 40 percent of American adults, or 81.5 million people, have considered adopting a child, according to the National Adoption Attitudes Survey. If just one in 500 of these adults adopted, every waiting child in foster care would have a permanent family.

NOTE: Statistical source is Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System; Department of Health & Human Services (October 2009), unless otherwise stipulated.

Amazing Story's Behind Mestas' Adoption

Hey, I have posted some awesome videos of the Mestas' Family that my sister Sharon and I had a chace to meet when we went to Wake Forest, NC for a cousin's wedding! It was so amazing to meet them and we had a wonderful time playing with the kids and talking! It was awesome to finally meet the family that we had read a lot about on their blogs! Hope you enjoy the videos and the blogs! -Kayla

Ellie Mestas' blog - http://myethiopiansisters.blogspot.com/

Eileen Mestas' blog - http://jobsdaughters.blogspot.com/

Ellie Mestas Etaala International

Ellie talks about her siblings adoption. It is so awesome how God worked through Ellie which lead the way to bring home her siblings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPrkYbPgzNk

Kolfe Mama "Adopting in Your 50's"

God knows the plans he has for you life and age usually doesn't relate to them.
So many people think that they are too old to adopt and their parenting days are over but then God suprises them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzEizXn-PgQ

Etaala International Ellie's Orphan Testimony

http://www.youtube.com/user/Mothertheworld#p/u/4/qnop1pFwvMA

Etaala International "Let Light Shine Out Of Darkness"

http://www.youtube.com/user/Mothertheworld#p/u/7/7D7Motb2K_s

"Kolfe Mama's Hugs" Eileen Mestas

http://www.youtube.com/user/Mothertheworld#p/u/14/PY3pgxjJ4iA

Kolfe Mama "Adoption Testimony Part 1"

http://www.youtube.com/user/Mothertheworld#p/u/13/NmeMGxz3KaE

Kolfe Mama "Adoption Testimony Part 2"

http://www.youtube.com/user/Mothertheworld#p/u/12/_Co89oW9XHM

The Star Thrower

The Star Thrower

One early morning, after a fierce storm had hit the coast, I strolled to the beach for my morning walk. Horrified, I saw that tens of thousands of starfish had been washed up on the beach by the winds and waves. I was saddened by the realization that all of them would die, stranded on the shore, away from the life-giving water. Despairing that there was nothing I could do, I sat down on the sand and put my head in my hands.

But then I heard a sound, and I lifted my eyes. There in the distance, I saw a man bending down and then standing up, bending down and standing up. Curious, I rose and walked toward him. I saw that he was picking up the starfish, one at a time, and throwing them back in the sea.

"What are you doing?", I yelled.

"Saving the starfish," he replied.

"But don't you see, man, that there are tens of thousands of them?" I asked, incredulous. "Nothing you can do will make a difference."

He did not answer me but instead bent down, picked up another starfish, and cast it back into the water. Then he smiled, looked me in the eye, and said, "It made a difference to that one!"

Loren Eiseley

A Hole In Our Gospel by: Richard Sterns

So i totally love this book! It is so awesome! Here is the introduction, i almost want to type up the whole book because it is so cool. Anyway this is a great book and is also available in AudioBook on iTunes. Enjoy!

What does God expect of us? That's what this book is about. It's a simple question, really. But is the answer so simple? What is the Christian faith about? Going to church every Sunday, saying grace before meals, and avoiding the most serious sins- or does God expect more? I am a Christian-perhaps you are too. But what does that mean exactly? To even be Christians, we must first believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. That in itself is no small idea. If it is true, it changes everything, because if Christ is God, then all that He said and did is deeply significant to how we live our lives. So we believe. But God expects more. And so the question, "What does God expect of me?" is a very profound one-not just for me, but for everyone who claims to follow Christ. Jesus had a lot to say about it. Yes, He did give us deep insights into the character of God and our relationship with Him as well, be he also spoke at length about God's expectations, our values, and how we are to live in the world. So how are we to live? What kind of relationship are we to have with a holy God? What is God asking for, really, from you and me? Much more than church attendance. More than prayer too. More than belief, and even more than self-denial. God asks us for everything. He requires a total life commitment from those who would be His followers. In fact, Christ calls us to be His partners in changing our world, just as He called the Twelve to change their world two thousand years ago. Certainly the twenty-first-century world is in need of change. It is hard to read the headlines each day without a growing sense of alarm. We hear about terrorism, ethnic and religious tensions, wars and conflicts, widespread hunger and poverty, global economic turmoil, brutal dictators, corrupt governments, massive natural disasters, climate change, nuclear intimidations, and even child trafficking and slavery. Our post- 9/11 world seems both frightening and threatening, and the majority of us struggle to understand it, let alone do something about it. The world's problems just seen too big and too hard for most of us; it's so much easier to retreat from them than to take them on. On Sunday morning, safe in our church pews and surrounded be friends, it can be all too easy to leave the world's violence, suffering, and turmoil outside-out of sight, out of mind. But wait-as Christians, are we really given the option of turning away from the world's problems? Does God permit that? I write this book from a very biased perspective. I believe that "God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). And if Jesus was willing to die for this troubled planet, maybe I need to care about it too. Maybe I should love the people that live on it more. Maybe I have a responsibility to do my part to love the world that Jesus loves so much.

=D