Debt.

People, Christians, we need to be serious about getting out of debt. The church cannot be the church when so many are enslaved to another master.

We cannot give joyfully and freely when we are in debt. What if instead of sending that $200 check to Mastercard, you were able to send it to Samaritan's Purse instead?

Begin to imagine a world where no Christian had any debt. What would the world look like? How many world problems eradicated? This sounds like a pipedream or an exaggeration, but it is not.

The total of U.S. consumer debt is 2.46 trillion dollars according to the Federal Reserve's report on consumer debt, March 2010. The amount of money needed to eradicate world hunger is about 30 billion dollars according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.

Our debt is holding us back. Let's get excited about eliminating our debt so we can get serious about our giving.

For my friends and family who are praying for our adoption and the children of Burkina Faso today:

Check out Psalm 96. It is a great Psalm to pray over the beautiful nation of Burkina.

And thank you so much for praying.

"The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." James 5:16

"Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed." Psalm 82:3

I have become convinced that there are two major obstacles holding back the church today.

Pornography and Debt.

My post today is dedicated to the issue of pornography. This is an issue that most Christian women can hardly bear to think about, but it is an issue we need to face. Ladies, have you asked your husbands about their use of pornography? Maybe you think you don't want to know the answer. Maybe you know the answer, but you have no idea how to approach your husband on the matter.

I believe that a man's inability to be the spiritual leader in your home is directly proportionate to the degree to which he is involved with porn. Pornography neuters a man.

I know this topic is just scary and gross for us. Ask God for the courage to begin healing your home. Find a friend who can help you get started.

So tomorrow is my birthday. I have always adored my birthday and have never been shy about it. So it has come of a little of shock to me that for the first time ever, I am not looking forward to it.

35 just feels different. I had no problem turning 30- I just felt like an official grown-up. But now the years are passing so quickly I feel like in no time I will be OLD.

In a lot of ways, I am okay with this. I mean each day lived is another day closer to heaven! The truth is, I love my life. I love being a mother. I love being a wife. I love my refugee Bible club, and the things I'm involved in at church, and this undying passion God has given me to help the hurting. Maybe I'm afraid that all this will change as I grow old?

I guess it comes down to (once again!), do I trust the Lord with my life or not? I do really think He'd exchange the joy I feel now for something lesser, as I grow older? No way! Not my Father!

"Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord, forever." Psalm 23:6

I don't have to love the idea of growing older, but I do love the One who holds all the days of my life in His hands~and I will trust Him with those days.

I had an incredible opportunity today to share the story of our family. I was asked to share our story for a friend's high school Child Development class. The topics I was asked to address were adoption and birth defects.

Besides the fact that I love to talk about my family, I also loved sharing with the students how much God has changed my heart since Carter was born. To share how very important each human life is; to not be afraid of a special needs diagnosis; to have compassion on those who deserve our compassion- it is a worthy message!

Having a special needs child is hard at times, but it is NOT the beginning of a depressing, dreary journey. If you let God show you the way, it is the doorway to a whole new world filled with exciting adventures and big stories. Bigger than you would have planned or hoped.

I was thrilled to read this blog about a very inspiring man with Noonan Syndrome (same condition my son has). If you have a minute, check this out:

http://www.cornwall2capehorn.com/da/101614

Go Ben!

Whoa. Carter threw his bottles away on Saturday. Whoa. After all these years he traded them for a pack of Power Ranger guys and really hasn't looked back.

Okay, I know he is 5 years old and I should be doing the dance of joy, but instead I am sad! I mean, of course I am glad to not suffer the special brand of humiliation that comes from explaining to the doctor/ babysitter/ teacher/dentist that Carter still takes a bottle, but that is one of the last baby connections I have to my son. One more step further away from me.

I guess that is the job of the parent. Making sure their child becomes independent and all.

I had a photographer friend who always made sure to take pictures of her children from behind. This was to remind her that her children were in the process of walking away from her and it make the most of everyday they are together. A little melancholy perhaps, but that just so fits my mood for today.

I love my boy.