Family

Music speaks to me.  Always has.  Since I was a young child, music has always hit me right to the core.  It allows me to express myself in ways I couldn't have otherwise.  It also speaks to me...in words and ways that are so piercing...so convicting, that had I just heard them in normal conversation, it would not have had the same effect.

This song has come to mean so much to me.  As we begin this new journey...my heart longs for family that I never even knew I had until a few weeks ago.  To many, this sounds crazy...but to a few of you...I  KNOW YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

There are so many children here, and around the world who long for just a taste of what family is.  They ache for family.

My prayers are going out to all of the families and children in Ukraine and to those adoptive families who are seeing little hope.  It is at times like this, when we seem to have no words, no understanding of what is going on.  But as the song below says, "FATHER SHOW US THE WAY
TO FIGHT FOR WHAT WE GOT CAUSE YOU BELIEVE IN FAMILY." We know that God designed families from the beginning and this is His desire for all of us.  We know that orphans are on God's heart...and should be on ours, too. To all of the families who see little hope now, know you and your children are being prayed for, and though things seem hopeless, we know that "Through Him, all things are possible." We serve a savior who is the Father to the Fatherless, and who is all powerful and all loving.

We are so blessed.  I challenge you to share your blessings.  To step out on faith and to share the love of a family with a child who doesn't have one.

Please read these lyrics and click on the link following to listen to this beautiful song.  I hope it speaks to your heart as much as it does to mine.  As I listen to it, I think of my precious D and M who are thousands of miles away.  Who are you thinking of?

"Arrows flying, into silence
Broken pieces lying around where it went down
Waters risen', back to silence
Quietly crying, wondering how
And look at us now

We thought our love would take the world by storm

Are we too far apart?
Two worlds among the stars
You're gonna take a piece of my heart if you leave
So it's two separate ways
Or am I too late to say I wanna fight for what we go
Cause I believe
In family

So are we still trying, or simply surviving
Facing these giants, the bigger they are the harder they fall
But I still believe in the dream we've been dreaming
The hope that we built on
It's never too far, never too far

Are we too far apart?
Two worlds among the stars
You're gonna take a piece of my heart if you leave
So it's two separate ways
Or am I too late to say I wanna fight for what we got
Cause I believe in family
In family, In family

I still believe
I still believe

That we're not too far apart
Two worlds among the stars
Don't take a piece of my heart, please don't leave
It's not too late to say, FATHER SHOW US THE WAY
TO FIGHT FOR WHAT WE GOT
CAUSE YOU BELIEVE IN FAMILY

Copy and paste the following link to listen to this beautiful song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVG4vPPHu7c

Putting my YES on the table

On February 22nd and 23rd, I went to what I thought was going to be a good, fun conference by Jen Hatmaker. It was much, much more. I left changed.  For many months, I have heard that we, as believers should put our "yes" on the table, and see where the Lord leads.  I have held back from doing this...fearful of what He would ask me to do.  At the conference, it hit me like a ton of bricks when out of Jen Hatmaker's mouth came "Just put your yes on the table." This is a phrase that I had somewhat tried to put to the back of my head.  As we began singing, "Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders, let me walk upon the waters, wherever you would call me..." I realized up to this point I could not sing this from my heart...because I was afraid....I was afraid what that meant for me.   I was afraid to go where my trust was without borders...because I was comfortable where I was. It was at that moment, that I surrendered. I gave up, and I said YES! I left, still not knowing what or where I was being called, but had the peace that the Lord would show me, and make it clear, and give me peace.

Fast forward 2 weeks.  The Lord started making it clear.  I went to lunch with Wendy and we just began visiting about her passion for orphans and hosting.  The Lord used this one conversation to spark a curiosity...an interest...a passion in me.  I began to look through the pictures of the beautiful children, orphans, from around the world, who are hoping to be hosted this summer for 6 weeks in the USA...to experience the unconditional love of a family.  As I was looking...I stopped dead in my tracks as one beautiful little girl had an uncanny resemblance to one of my little girls.  I had an instant connection to this beautiful face.  Then I saw she had a brother too! Piece by piece the Lord began giving me and Stephen the desire to reach out to and love on these precious children. It was such a blessing for Stephen and I to both receive confirmation in our hearts, that this was in fact what we are being called to do.  We've always said if one of us is being called to do something, the other will be as well. We are a team, in this together, and the peace that we have both received is indescribable. So what does this mean?

There are so many what ifs in this situation...BUT one thing I DO know, the Lord is in the midst of this and has made His plans abundantly clear to us, thus far.  I am now surrendering MY agenda, and following after the Lord's call for my life. This is something that was totally unplanned and unexpected for us.   But God's word tells us, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways." -Isaiah 55:8.  Instead of trusting in myself, I am putting my yes on the table.  I am trusting in the Father to the fatherless...the Savior of the World.  Pray for us as we begin this unexpected journey... that the Lord will be glorified wherever this path may lead.

I'm thrilled to share these beautiful faces with you:

"D"

"M"

Please pray for these two.  Pray for them now: that the Lord will protect them...their minds, hearts, and bodies.  Pray the Lord will begin to prepare them for the summer.  Pray they will be excited.  Pray they will feel the love that we have to give and will accept it. Pray that they see and feel the love of Jesus this summer.

Pray for the Carlisles: As we prepare to bring two new people into our family for the summer. Pray the Lord will continue to open doors and guide our path.  Pray all the details work out regarding travel, dates, etc.  Pray we will be excited to love on these blessings.  Pray for the family dynamics...that we just mesh.  Pray for a connection.  Pray that we can show the unconditional love that our Heavenly Father has given us.

Please pray for more families to host these beautiful gifts...there are so many needs.  Perhaps God is calling you, just as He is calling us.  Is YOUR yes on the table?? If you would like more info on hosting feel free to contact me or Wendy at wendilynn.farrell@gmail.com.