The Heart of the Matter
So, lately, I've been basking in the Lord's word and loving what I'm learning. Learning that because Christ died for me and has conquered death on my behalf, making me one with Him, I can die to myself and freedoms for the sake of others growing in His love. Learning not to put my liberties on a pedestal but set them down them for the glory of His INCREDIBLE name and for the good of others (Romans 14 & 15). After all, who am I anyway to deserve any of this? I am adopted by God through His Son Jesus and the very fact that I have another breath on this planet, another heart beat vibrating through my chest, another day of waking up to His new and glorious mercies is HIS VERY GRACE in my life... GRACE UNDESERVED!!! So, I'm thankful for His love, patience, kindness, gentleness, mercy, holiness, righteousness and every other "ness" you can think of that He offers. Also, thankful that I am a work, His work, in progress and that I will be finished by Him one day. Thankful that I do not have to grow zero to sixty in 2 seconds.
Nitty Gritty
That zero to sixty in 2 seconds is happening though. We are mailing our I800a form out to the USCIS (U.S. Citizen & Immigration Services) on Monday and then will have a 6-9 week waiting for approval period. According to our social worker this is the longest waiting period we'll have for the remainder of our adoption process. Kinda scary, not gonna lie! During this waiting time, we'll be getting our Dossier (collection or file of documents on the same subject, especially a complete file containing detailed information about a person or topic) prepared for the country of Colombia so they can then send us profiles of children that are in our criteria. HOLY NIGHT, WHAT JUST HAPPENED? Anyway, we are super excited and prayerfully anticipating God's hand continuing to lead and provide.
Our family is planning to leave for Portland and Bangor Maine around Christmas to spend some time with family up there, teach, lead music and prayerfully raise some extra resources for our family to be:) Please continue to pray for us as we move forward and quite rapidly from here on out. We've been told that the clock has started ticking and our adoption process now has time sensitive steps involved. Again, while we don't know what all this means, we are trusting in our Great Lord and Savior who does.
Friday, November 9, 2012
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
One Big Step Closer...
So, our benefit/ auction/ worship/ coffee shop night turned out to be an amazing night of fellowship; reuniting with some folks and meeting others for the first time. We were humbled and blessed by everyone's presence and the fact that they were there for our two children awaiting us in Colombia left us undone and speechless to say the least! I'm pretty sure I cried at least 10 times that night. The event brought in a miraculous amount of $6,665.00, which is a tiny bit over what we need by the beginning of January! Praise Jehovah Jireh in His provision, through His people, for our two precious Colombian children. Oh, I almost forgot another HUGE detail to this milestone in the process and anyone who knows me for more than 5 minutes knows I ADORE details; I am my father's child after all. Our home study came in the mail the morning of the benefit finished, approved and along with 4 extra copies to send off with our grant applications. Hallelujah!!! Oh Happy Day you were October 6th, 2012!
The following weekend found us (Eric and I along with a couple friends) down in Indianapolis at one of our closest friends' conference they had been planning since about 6 months ago. We were honored and humbled to lead around 250 of God's people in song on Saturday night at this wonderful Influence Conference. You can find details on this wonderful conference for next year here @ http://www.theinfluenceconference.com/. While I did not experience much other than good food, a room of sweet singing people and seeing the couple of beautiful familiar faces, I heard it was an event never to forget; so check it out! This beautiful story of God's redeeming and transforming grace in a couple's life will rock your world. Please be blessed by their story here @ http://vimeo.com/50711527. For those of you waiting for the song list of the songs that were sung that night they are:
Jesus Paid it All
How Great is Our God (chorus & bridge)
How Great Thou Art (chorus)
10,000 Reasons
Because He Lives
I Am Free (By our friend, Scott Cunningham)
Let Us Adore
Your Love Never Fails
In Christ Alone
Christ Is Risen
We Exalt Thee (chorus)
Nuts & Bolts
We are excited to start applying for grants and interest-free loans now that we have our home study to do so. By the beginning of January, after we have paid off the $6,500 we owe our agency, we will need to turn around and immediately pay a bigger lump sum, only not in monthly payments this time. So, we are trusting the Lord to provide that amount of $8,500. Again, hopefully that amount will come mostly through grants/loans. We have also been told by our agency that at the beginning of January the clock starts ticking with deadlines and expirations of things. We are not afraid, but trusting for His perfect provision and timing in all of this.
We are praying about/planning recording a professional CD in December to help raise funds as well; We're really looking forward to that and will keep everyone on here posted as that progresses! As for right now, anyone interested in buying the music we have recorded at the time can do so by clicking on our music tab on the blog. We also have a Finally Home Adoption facebook page that has a TON of items, left over from the benefit, that need to be bought. And anyone just wanting to donate towards our adoption with a tax write-off can send a check made out to Gospel Community with the word "adoption" written on the memo, attaching a separate note to the check specifying it towards us Woods. The address for Gospel Community is PO Box 85050, Fort Wayne, IN 46885. Again, this method will ensure you get a tax write-off for donating towards our cause. We are so thankful for you following our progress and lifting it up through prayers and financial support!
The following weekend found us (Eric and I along with a couple friends) down in Indianapolis at one of our closest friends' conference they had been planning since about 6 months ago. We were honored and humbled to lead around 250 of God's people in song on Saturday night at this wonderful Influence Conference. You can find details on this wonderful conference for next year here @ http://www.theinfluenceconference.com/. While I did not experience much other than good food, a room of sweet singing people and seeing the couple of beautiful familiar faces, I heard it was an event never to forget; so check it out! This beautiful story of God's redeeming and transforming grace in a couple's life will rock your world. Please be blessed by their story here @ http://vimeo.com/50711527. For those of you waiting for the song list of the songs that were sung that night they are:
Jesus Paid it All
How Great is Our God (chorus & bridge)
How Great Thou Art (chorus)
10,000 Reasons
Because He Lives
I Am Free (By our friend, Scott Cunningham)
Let Us Adore
Your Love Never Fails
In Christ Alone
Christ Is Risen
We Exalt Thee (chorus)
Nuts & Bolts
We are excited to start applying for grants and interest-free loans now that we have our home study to do so. By the beginning of January, after we have paid off the $6,500 we owe our agency, we will need to turn around and immediately pay a bigger lump sum, only not in monthly payments this time. So, we are trusting the Lord to provide that amount of $8,500. Again, hopefully that amount will come mostly through grants/loans. We have also been told by our agency that at the beginning of January the clock starts ticking with deadlines and expirations of things. We are not afraid, but trusting for His perfect provision and timing in all of this.
We are praying about/planning recording a professional CD in December to help raise funds as well; We're really looking forward to that and will keep everyone on here posted as that progresses! As for right now, anyone interested in buying the music we have recorded at the time can do so by clicking on our music tab on the blog. We also have a Finally Home Adoption facebook page that has a TON of items, left over from the benefit, that need to be bought. And anyone just wanting to donate towards our adoption with a tax write-off can send a check made out to Gospel Community with the word "adoption" written on the memo, attaching a separate note to the check specifying it towards us Woods. The address for Gospel Community is PO Box 85050, Fort Wayne, IN 46885. Again, this method will ensure you get a tax write-off for donating towards our cause. We are so thankful for you following our progress and lifting it up through prayers and financial support!
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Silent Auction isn't so silent...
Hey everyone,
Just wanted to give you a some-what completed list of the items that will be auctioned off at our benefit on Saturday, October 6th, at our benefit. Once again, it's from 6-9 p.m. and from 6-7:15 will be the "auction" part of it. By the way, this silent auction isn't so silent... It's looking pretty loud! We've been blessed with amazing friends/family that are making this thing go off with a "BIG BANG"!
Follow this link to go see the benefit information: https://www.facebook.com/events/354016374673041/
And now, for the list. Drum roll please...
Just wanted to give you a some-what completed list of the items that will be auctioned off at our benefit on Saturday, October 6th, at our benefit. Once again, it's from 6-9 p.m. and from 6-7:15 will be the "auction" part of it. By the way, this silent auction isn't so silent... It's looking pretty loud! We've been blessed with amazing friends/family that are making this thing go off with a "BIG BANG"!
Follow this link to go see the benefit information: https://www.facebook.com/events/354016374673041/
And now, for the list. Drum roll please...
*'fire engine red Squire bullet Stratocaster* from Sweet Water
*COACH purse*
*8 Chonda Pierce tickets*
*Gold Canyon Candles*
*Lazer X*
*Photography packages (2 different photographers)*
*Haircuts by Sam Studio*
*3 different crochet sets by Carly*
*Full Color Service, haircut & style by Amber @ New Revelation Salon*
*1 Full year of karate including uniform*
*6 month membership to Anytime Fitness*
*6 month membership to YMCA*
*Gift Basket from Downtown Grind*
*Gift Basket from Old Crown Coffee*
*Haircut by Tangles Salon*
*Manicure Certificate by Tiffany's*
*15 prints from Naptime Diaries Prints*
*Yoga gift certificate*
*artwork by Jake Curtis*
*professional teeth whitening appointment with Dr. Brunner*
*2 tickets to the Rave theater*
*gift card to tanning haven*
*tokens and tickets fun cards
*collectors items from Discount Comic Book Services
*4 cute music pins donated by Steinway
*basket from Brateman's Uniform Supply
*Interactive Bible CD-ROM from Family Christian Bookstore*
*Carmike movie passes*
*Arnold and sons htg and a/c would donate a complete furnace checkup/ service for this fall along with a a/c service/checkup this coming spring*
*Arnold's soft water will donate a 5 stage reverse osmosis water purification system ( drinking water at sink and to refrigerator ) along with installation*
*6 tickets to cinema grill*
*weighted blanket*
*Yo-Yo's gift certificates*
*Trionfale package*
*perfectly posh pampering set*
*2 adult and 2 children zoo tickets*
*$5 gift card and mug to firefly*
*4 higher grounds gift cards*
* 3 - 3Chiropractic sessions *
* Granite City gift card*
* Norwex Gift basket*
* Garage Door Opener*
* Uppercase Living merchandise/gift certificate*
*(2) 2-drawer file cabinets*
*(2) 2-drawer file cabinets*
Friday, September 28, 2012
Adoption Benefit/ Silent Auction/ Coffee house/ Worship Night
Ok, so our benefit our friend is throwing us is JUST around the corner. Please check it out, we are SO excited to see what the Lord is up to for this event. In just 7 WEEKS we have seen businesses donate their money and services for our wonderful silent auction the beautiful body of Christ going out of their way to post fliers and ask for donations and pray for us and our Colombian children! We are SUPER EXCITED!!!
The link below should take you to the event. For questions, please contact Amber Wiesenberg at 260-416-4345
https://www.facebook.com/events/354016374673041/
God bless you
The link below should take you to the event. For questions, please contact Amber Wiesenberg at 260-416-4345
https://www.facebook.com/events/354016374673041/
God bless you
Thursday, September 20, 2012
The small things...
So, lately, I've been super busy. In fact, probably busier than I've EVER been for 4 consecutive weeks straight! Now, I've been known to "keep" busy pretty much the majority of my adult life; not necessarily with the "right" things, but none the less, busy! But this busyness (we'll call her Beezee) within the last 4 weeks that I speak of, is a busyness like no other I've experienced before. Sadly, I'm just now becoming pretty good friends with Beezee. I'm finding her fun and at the end of the day, after spending time with her, I'm laying my head down at night, thankful for her and not regretting her because she's taken me away from my children.
I was thinking earlier today on this and how I've longed to stay busy with the wrong things. These things haven't necessarily been bad but were wrong for me in the season of life I was in. I know the Lord, being gracious, has used those things for His glory all the while trying to teach me of the important things. These important things are the things in which the world laughs at. These important things are the things that take time and the reward is years down the road. These important things are my children.
Now, I know in Matthew 25 Jesus is talking about the kingdom of heaven and I in no way intend to twist this into something it's not, but hear me out for a second.
Starting in verse 14 of chapter Jesus is talking about the parable of the talents and what each servant chose to do with their talents. We all know the moral of the story is if we are faithful with the small things, we will be given much.
I'd like to propose that these important things, my children, are the small things the Lord has asked me to be faithful with for now. I am calling raising them "a small thing" because at the very core of my natural being, it is what I fight against and the world sees as small. I am NOT saying my children are small in importance and I am also NOT saying it is a "small thing" to raise children up in the Lord; I beg to differ on that. Raising children, so far, has been the most complex, yet wonderful thing I've done as a "job". And last, but not least, I am NOT saying that I have bigger and better things to be given over to after my children are raised up.
Stretching this out a little further (thanks for bearing with me), I DO find it interesting that He is talking about the kingdom of heaven in this passage and earlier in Matthew 18 tells His disciples that unless they become like children, they cannot enter into His kingdom. From this, it looks like it may benefit us in more than one way to invest in our children; they can show us a thing or two. After all, I've heard it said, you start to look like the ones you hang with the most. Lord, help us all!
I was thinking earlier today on this and how I've longed to stay busy with the wrong things. These things haven't necessarily been bad but were wrong for me in the season of life I was in. I know the Lord, being gracious, has used those things for His glory all the while trying to teach me of the important things. These important things are the things in which the world laughs at. These important things are the things that take time and the reward is years down the road. These important things are my children.
Now, I know in Matthew 25 Jesus is talking about the kingdom of heaven and I in no way intend to twist this into something it's not, but hear me out for a second.
Starting in verse 14 of chapter Jesus is talking about the parable of the talents and what each servant chose to do with their talents. We all know the moral of the story is if we are faithful with the small things, we will be given much.
I'd like to propose that these important things, my children, are the small things the Lord has asked me to be faithful with for now. I am calling raising them "a small thing" because at the very core of my natural being, it is what I fight against and the world sees as small. I am NOT saying my children are small in importance and I am also NOT saying it is a "small thing" to raise children up in the Lord; I beg to differ on that. Raising children, so far, has been the most complex, yet wonderful thing I've done as a "job". And last, but not least, I am NOT saying that I have bigger and better things to be given over to after my children are raised up.
Stretching this out a little further (thanks for bearing with me), I DO find it interesting that He is talking about the kingdom of heaven in this passage and earlier in Matthew 18 tells His disciples that unless they become like children, they cannot enter into His kingdom. From this, it looks like it may benefit us in more than one way to invest in our children; they can show us a thing or two. After all, I've heard it said, you start to look like the ones you hang with the most. Lord, help us all!
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
The Soil
I've heard it said that fruits and vegetables grown decades ago were much richer in vitamins and minerals than the varieties most of us get today. The main culprit in this disturbing nutritional trend is soil depletion. While I'm not one that buys everything organic, I believe there may be a lot of truth to this. BUT, this is not a post about buying or not buying organic.
You see, as I was reading my devotional today in Oswald Chambers, he was reminding me that I am to "go on" with Jesus; to continue with Him in His trials. The last paragraph explained what that looks like as follows:
"The way goes through Gethsemane, through the city gate, and on 'outside the camp' (Hebrews 13:13). The way is lonely and goes on until there is no longer even a trace of a footprint to follow-- but only the voice saying, 'Follow Me' (Matthew 4:19).
Finishing this read and moving onto Romans, it struck me...
We are to continue on with Christ through the highs and through the lows. We are to abide, to be renewed. Now, it is He who sustains us; His grace saving and keeping us. And even the bearing of the fruit is grown by none other than His Holy Spirit. But fruit will not grow unless there is a solid soil. Good soil with nutrients and minerals equals a harvest of plenty; A harvest of organic, authentic fruit.
In all of this, I wonder how my soil has been taken care of? Have I allowed the soil of my heart to be tilled by His living Word, showered by His amazing grace and tamed (like a tomato plant) by His Holy Spirit?
Oh Lord, thank You for Your grace. Thank You for your truth and Spirit. Thank You for making me Your own. Please have Your way in me. Do what You have to do to break ground in me.
NUTS AND BOLTS
We are still waiting on our home study to be "finalized". It has been written and sent off to our Colombian Agency, Adoption by Shepherd Care. They are in the process of approving it. Once they approve it (hopefully in the next few days), we will be able to start applying for grants and loans.
We are having a Finally Home Adoption benefit on Saturday, October 6th from 6-9 p.m. For more information regarding that, follow this link https://www.facebook.com/events/354016374673041/
Also, my husband has taken on an extra job to help with the adoption. Please be praying for him, for his health, energy and strength to be sustained in this busy season by the Lord's hand.
You see, as I was reading my devotional today in Oswald Chambers, he was reminding me that I am to "go on" with Jesus; to continue with Him in His trials. The last paragraph explained what that looks like as follows:
"The way goes through Gethsemane, through the city gate, and on 'outside the camp' (Hebrews 13:13). The way is lonely and goes on until there is no longer even a trace of a footprint to follow-- but only the voice saying, 'Follow Me' (Matthew 4:19).
Finishing this read and moving onto Romans, it struck me...
We are to continue on with Christ through the highs and through the lows. We are to abide, to be renewed. Now, it is He who sustains us; His grace saving and keeping us. And even the bearing of the fruit is grown by none other than His Holy Spirit. But fruit will not grow unless there is a solid soil. Good soil with nutrients and minerals equals a harvest of plenty; A harvest of organic, authentic fruit.
In all of this, I wonder how my soil has been taken care of? Have I allowed the soil of my heart to be tilled by His living Word, showered by His amazing grace and tamed (like a tomato plant) by His Holy Spirit?
Oh Lord, thank You for Your grace. Thank You for your truth and Spirit. Thank You for making me Your own. Please have Your way in me. Do what You have to do to break ground in me.
NUTS AND BOLTS
We are still waiting on our home study to be "finalized". It has been written and sent off to our Colombian Agency, Adoption by Shepherd Care. They are in the process of approving it. Once they approve it (hopefully in the next few days), we will be able to start applying for grants and loans.
We are having a Finally Home Adoption benefit on Saturday, October 6th from 6-9 p.m. For more information regarding that, follow this link https://www.facebook.com/events/354016374673041/
Also, my husband has taken on an extra job to help with the adoption. Please be praying for him, for his health, energy and strength to be sustained in this busy season by the Lord's hand.
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Keep Quiet and Nobody Gets Hurt
To preface this next blog and ones in the future, let me say I am an "adopted by God who is adopting children, blogging non-blogger". In other words, while I love the heart of adoption and am in the process of it, you may find blog updates regarding our process, or you may at times, see me in the raw; depending on what is going on in my life.
(Clears throat, stage lights dimmed, curtains opened and the story begins)
Bombs going off, people being torn limb from limb, grace is lost in the moment, fires are set ablaze. Debris covers the ground all around reminding the hurt of the recent terror. Welcome to the world of the human tongue!
For a while now, I have posed the question to the Lord of what it means to take a thought captive. Whether it be fact or a straight up lie from the enemy, we are called to take them captive. What does that mean? In all of this, I will be honest enough to say, I've also not had the craziest prayer life. Yeah, I've prayed for people's circumstances, my circumstances, things that were brought to my attention. The hard part for me is waiting and praying nothing while letting His Spirit intercede for me. All that to say, I've needed to grow in both areas.
As I've been asking the Lord about captivating thoughts, He has also shown me that prayer is just that.
The act of taking a terrorist captive is to put an end to his destruction. He can't make a mess if he's imprisoned. In 2 Corinthians 10:5 it reminds us saying, "Take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete." Prior to that we are reminded that our weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. Our thoughts, terrorists that they are, can destroy. Accusations, gossip, venting for comfort, facts that should only be kept between us and the Lord are nothing shy of a form of that warfare which goes much deeper than each of them on their own.
Lately, the Lord has been showing me that the second I let a thought, whether truthful or not (and I mean negative of course), out of my mouth, that captive has been freed and is now a refugee running to anyone they can find for help. Besides the obvious destruction we are allowing to go on when this happens, there are three great losses in that moment. A loss of grace extended to that being and to the hearers. Grace is the very thing NONE of us deserve that not only saves us but sustains us. I've been recently reminded that I desire grace from others, so I must call on the Spirit to help me extend, even when it's lacking on the other end. The second loss is a loss of intimacy between me and the Father in that moment. I once had a friend speak wisdom to me about her relationship between her and her husband. She had stated she is careful to not share much with anyone regarding quarrels between her and her husband because she feels like that is too intimate of a part of her life to share and she doesn't want anyone knowing her husband like she does. I thought that was so beautiful and true. I am recently finding that as I keep things between just me and the Lord (not even taking them to my husband) there is a great intimacy that dwells within those boundaries and it's also teaching me to keep quiet and ultimately trust His Spirit to move and for me to sit back and pray. Also, venting to others never changed my mind as much as praying to God for the situation and Him giving me grace to extend when I couldn't give it on my own. The third loss is that it grieves the Spirit of God when we free those captive thoughts by sharing with others. (Ephesians 4:29-30)
James 3 is a great reminder of that battle scene discribed above and I only pray the Lord would continue to work this out in me to where the battle scene stays on my knees and between me and the Father.
NUTS AND BOLTS
As I stated in my last post, the home study is being written as we speak and we are waiting to take the next step in the process because the contract we are sending in needs to travel with $6,500.00 and we do not have that yet. However, about $1,200.00 has come in (Praise the Lord!) and so that puts us down to needing $5,300.00 in order to mail that contract off and get started on the Dossier. Please continue to pray, we see the Lord providing through His church and we are encouraged by that. Thankful for your desire to follow us in this journey, supporting us through your prayers and finances! God bless you.
(Clears throat, stage lights dimmed, curtains opened and the story begins)
Bombs going off, people being torn limb from limb, grace is lost in the moment, fires are set ablaze. Debris covers the ground all around reminding the hurt of the recent terror. Welcome to the world of the human tongue!
For a while now, I have posed the question to the Lord of what it means to take a thought captive. Whether it be fact or a straight up lie from the enemy, we are called to take them captive. What does that mean? In all of this, I will be honest enough to say, I've also not had the craziest prayer life. Yeah, I've prayed for people's circumstances, my circumstances, things that were brought to my attention. The hard part for me is waiting and praying nothing while letting His Spirit intercede for me. All that to say, I've needed to grow in both areas.
As I've been asking the Lord about captivating thoughts, He has also shown me that prayer is just that.
The act of taking a terrorist captive is to put an end to his destruction. He can't make a mess if he's imprisoned. In 2 Corinthians 10:5 it reminds us saying, "Take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete." Prior to that we are reminded that our weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. Our thoughts, terrorists that they are, can destroy. Accusations, gossip, venting for comfort, facts that should only be kept between us and the Lord are nothing shy of a form of that warfare which goes much deeper than each of them on their own.
Lately, the Lord has been showing me that the second I let a thought, whether truthful or not (and I mean negative of course), out of my mouth, that captive has been freed and is now a refugee running to anyone they can find for help. Besides the obvious destruction we are allowing to go on when this happens, there are three great losses in that moment. A loss of grace extended to that being and to the hearers. Grace is the very thing NONE of us deserve that not only saves us but sustains us. I've been recently reminded that I desire grace from others, so I must call on the Spirit to help me extend, even when it's lacking on the other end. The second loss is a loss of intimacy between me and the Father in that moment. I once had a friend speak wisdom to me about her relationship between her and her husband. She had stated she is careful to not share much with anyone regarding quarrels between her and her husband because she feels like that is too intimate of a part of her life to share and she doesn't want anyone knowing her husband like she does. I thought that was so beautiful and true. I am recently finding that as I keep things between just me and the Lord (not even taking them to my husband) there is a great intimacy that dwells within those boundaries and it's also teaching me to keep quiet and ultimately trust His Spirit to move and for me to sit back and pray. Also, venting to others never changed my mind as much as praying to God for the situation and Him giving me grace to extend when I couldn't give it on my own. The third loss is that it grieves the Spirit of God when we free those captive thoughts by sharing with others. (Ephesians 4:29-30)
James 3 is a great reminder of that battle scene discribed above and I only pray the Lord would continue to work this out in me to where the battle scene stays on my knees and between me and the Father.
NUTS AND BOLTS
As I stated in my last post, the home study is being written as we speak and we are waiting to take the next step in the process because the contract we are sending in needs to travel with $6,500.00 and we do not have that yet. However, about $1,200.00 has come in (Praise the Lord!) and so that puts us down to needing $5,300.00 in order to mail that contract off and get started on the Dossier. Please continue to pray, we see the Lord providing through His church and we are encouraged by that. Thankful for your desire to follow us in this journey, supporting us through your prayers and finances! God bless you.
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