Are You Safe?

I was talking with my mom last night and so enjoyed the interest she shows in our journey.  The love and support shown by so much of our family and friends is amazing!

Mom stated how happy she is for me and how much she loves watching God work through us.  I said, "It is an exciting life, thats for sure!" And I forget just how she said it but it was something along the lines of acknowledging the fact that our life is one where you never know what God is going to do next.  To a degree I get that and yet the more I think about it, I wonder why it is that everyone doesn't have the same opportunities we have?  Or do they?  Do you have the same options each day that God presents in my life?  Technically, no but I do believe that the same opportunity *is* there for adventure, for risk, for God to challenge you to do something you never would have before - but now you can because you realize and understand more fully that He is WITH YOU and you trust Him.

Nothing gets me going more than that; seeing someone do something they never thought they would/could before!  But because they trust God they are moving!  I don't care if it is adoption, quitting your job and moving away from the only family and friends you have ever known in order to pursue a dream, running a marathon, leading a small group, sitting in a different seat a little bit closer at church, or whatever!  Ask yourself, what is God challenging you to do? Do something kind for your neighbor? Smile at someone at the grocery store?  Maybe follow her and when you see her add up her groceries and then place items out of the cart because she doesn't have enough to cover it, secretly pay the cashier for the items?  I love the drive through game where you get to the window and the person says your coffee is paid for by the person in front of you! For no reason...then if you realize it quick enough you pay for the next person :)

Life is so short, guys.  And from the very few experiences we have had and are in the midst of, can I please tell you - risk it!  Be wise, use good discernment, but do something bold for God that you never, ever thought you could or would and then trust Him.  There is no roller coaster to give you a bigger thrill than that. It definitely can feel like the very tip of the monstrous hill right before you plunge, you know where your tummy is not yet flipping - but almost!?? Nothing on earth will be a better feeling than at some point seeing someone in heaven that tells you that they are there because of something God allowed you to be part of.  I promise the opportunities are there, take them!

I've used this clip several times as an illustration in messages I've given.  I'd like to share it with you today and ask one simple thing,


how safe are you?

The Small Stuff

What a fun experience this is!  Very overwhelming, lengthy experience as well - but so much fun!  I absolutely *love* being in the middle of God's Will and in the midst of 'chaos' having Him show Himself in very specific ways.  I almost said mighty ways but sometimes it isn't really mighty - just obvious, ya know?  I have 3 stories to share...

1) We have been having a terrible time finding a Psychologist to take us on for the dossier.  Since we weren't patients anyway and have no plans to continue to utilize the service - they don't want to mess with us.  I had called close to 30 providers with no luck.  When we went to see our doctor in Zion (he and his wife are good friends of ours as well, Tim went to Haiti with them this last trip) Tim just happened to ask him if he knew a Psychologist in the area.  He immediately stopped what he was doing and said, "Uh, actually yes!  Some friends of ours adopted from Ethiopia about a year ago and he just happens to be a Psychologist!" Before I knew it he had Janet on the phone right there in the office and we exchanged info.  **Really cool tidbit - in our 2 minute conversation she mentioned that the upcoming Sunday (Mother's Day) they would be dedicating their kids at their church if we would like to come.  I just stinking love that.... I explained that we would have loved to but Sunday mornings are busy for us :) she had no idea - thats why it was cool!

That brings us to last Friday at our Rummage Sale (a big hit by the way! we are 1/2 way to our next goal!).  We put posters up  

of what we are doing so people could get an idea and early Friday a gal came and casually mentioned that she too had been on a trip to Haiti. We chatted awhile and it came up that the adoption agency we are going through, America World Adoption, we chose because some friends of ours went through them while adopting from Ethiopia. She said, "Oh, I know some people from my church who just adopted from Ethiopia." I asked what church... she told me and since it happened to be that same church Janet had invited me to, I thought I would ask the next obvious question of, "What is their name?" and sure enough - same family!  We thought that was pretty cool, had a good laugh and off she went.

About an hour later a lady walked up the driveway looking like she was definitely on a mission!  She promptly asked, "Who is Mindy?" When I stepped up she introduced herself as Janet, the gal I spoke to on the phone that day at my doctors office and had been emailing with! The lady that had been by earlier in the day left my house and went to the Post Office - only to 'coincidentally' run into Janet!  They had a fun 'God Moment' conversation and then Janet brought her beautiful kids over to meet us!  She gave her husband a call right there and we set up an appointment for them to come over to the house tomorrow night! Ladies and gentlemen, this is no coincidence! There are 100,000 people in Kenosha and we actually were in Zion, IL at our doctors office so this is just really cool!

2) Saturday a gal came to the Rummage Sale and brought up adoption because she too had adopted and was in the process of adopting again from Russia.  We talked awhile before she mentioned Russia again, this time my daughter picking up on the 'Russia' part and told her we too had friends who adopted from Russia, their son's name is Kolya.  The lady freaked out.  She said, "I was just listening to an author on the radio the other day talking about her son, Koyla that she and her husband adopted from Russia." I said, "Oh ya, that is Jill Savage, they are friends of ours." She was floored!  Not impressed that we know Jill but that it was the conversation on the radio show that inspired her to adopt again and here we were at a Rummage Sale talking about it!

3) May not seem like much but huge to me!  Kurt has been dog sitting for my girlfriend Amy this weekend and using my van.  Sunday morning as we went to get in the van I see a box that says, "Kurt, give this to your mom." and it had some magazines in it and some really cool, chocolate covered, decorated pretzels.  My first thought was, hey! those would be cool to sell at the cafe' at church (www.northpointchurch by the way) and then it hit me... today I was supposed to bring something for the cafe' and I totally forgot!  Holy cow, did God really just do that?  Remember something for me that I totally forgot?  YES!

I don't know about you, but I needed these bits of encouragement from God but I really didn't even know I needed it until it came!  I'll say it again and I don't care if you get tired of hearing it, I love my life.  I have the great privilege of being married to my best friend, amazing kids, a fantastic and supportive family, as well as extended (church) family here in Winthrop Harbor/Kenosha... and yet I desperately need to hear from God and these small things are just the encouragement I need at just the right time.   Friends, if you do not have this relationship - get it.  If you don't know how to get it, I'll stop my world right now and help you figure it out.  It is that important...