Depraved Indifference Video by Eric Ludy

What would it take for you to move? To align your heart and mind with what is on God's Heart?

God is here on this earth through those who believe in Him -

You are God's hands

You are God's feet

You are God's heart

Right here on this earth.

Does you heart beat for the things that break His heart? Do you suffer from Depraved Indifference?

There is a solution: Jesus Christ.

God rescues the weak and vulnerable through us - through our obedience to what he speaks to our heart!

That statement alone humbles me. That statement can stir up fear -

Fear of what God may put on your heart

Fear that you may have to step out of your comfort zone

Fear that people may think that you have totally lost your

mind, because the things that God puts on your heart just

don’t make sense to the natural mind or to those around

you.

I love this quote: God does not call the equipped. He equips the called.

God may have put something on your heart and mind, and right now it is just a good idea. Good ideas are just that until the moment you act on them. I am praying for you! Praying that you will have the courage to take that good idea and share it with someone who can help you move from thought to action.

Heroes are made because they are moved - not in their head, but in their heart. - Eric Ludy

God is raising up advocates to STAND UP for those who cannot stand up for themselves.

Proverbs 31:8 - Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.

There are many ways that you can get involved:

Resurrection Fellowship will be hosting an event on March 20th - http://openoureyes.eventbrite.com/

UCount is a ministry of Timberline Church that advocates for those trapped in trafficking - http://www.ucountcampaign.org/

Christian Alliance for Orphans - Orphan Summit VII - May 12 and 13 - http://www.christianalliancefororphans.org/summit

God can and will use you according to His will as you are obedient to what He has put on your heart. :)

Open Our Eyes - God's Passion for the Fatherless

Northern Colorado Orphan Care / Foster Care / Adoption Event

Hosted by Resurrection Fellowship

Sunday March 20, 2011

6:00-9:00pm

Event Schedule:

5:30 PM - Doors open

6:00 PM - Introduction and worship with Tom Ewing and the NoCo Worship Band

6:30 PM - Guest Speaker, Tom Davis - God's passion for the fatherless

7:00 PM - Connect with orphan, foster care, and adoption organizations

For more information and free registration go to: http://openoureyes.eventbrite.com/

Last Night's Orientation

Last night we hosted an orientation for Project 1.27 at Timberline Church. 150 people attended!!

It is always an honor to host Project 1.27 in any capacity.

Their vision and heart for the children of Colorado who need forever families is contagious. Their passion for the families that adopt these children resonated through the entire event.

The Shea Family spoke about their experiences in adopting through Project 1.27 and Larimer County. They did a fabulous job of sharing their experience and how God led and confirmed them at each step. They openly shared the joys and the challenges.

The key comment that kept coming up through the night was: SUPPORT!! As an adoptive family you can never have too much support. We need to have people in our lives, that know our stuff (this can be hard sometimes), that know what we are going through, that know the daily challenges that we face so that at a moments notice they can be available to help.

God doesn't lead us down this road of adoption without bringing those into our lives who can and will support us.

If you are finding that you need support, please consider joining us as we begin the Created to Connect Study by Dr. Karyn Purvis at Timberline Church this Sunday at 5pm.

If you cannot join us, but would like to connect with someone to talk with please feel free to email me at: Karalot9@gmail.com
:)

Northern Colorado Christian Alliance for Orphans

This Thursday, February 17th is Northern Colorado Christian Alliance for Orphans meeting at Biaggis located in Centerra at Noon. If you want to know more about what is happening in Northern CO in regards to adoption, orphan care ministry, foster care support - this is the place to be. Northern Colorado Christian Alliance for Orphans is a Regional Alliance for Christian Alliance for Orphans. We are uniting with churches all around the US to advocate for those who can't speak for themselves.

Our agenda this month includes:

-Eric Shanfelt, Open our Eyes - God's Passion for the Fatherless an Adoption, Orphan Ministry Event at Resurrection Fellowship on March 20th. http://openoureyes.eventbrite.com/

-Jeff Dillon, Embryo Adoption, Nightlight Christian Adoptions

http://www.nightlight.org/

-Tom Davis, CEO of Children's Hopechest and author of several books including Fields of the v Fatherless, Red Letters, Scared and Priceless http://www.hopechest.org/

A word from Tom:

http://www.vimeo.com/19097292

We would love to have you join us this week. :)

Please email me if you would like to attend:

Karalot9@gmail.com

Happy Valentines Day!!!!

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!!!

Loveland, CO, has a 65-year-old tradition. In it's Re-mailing Program, volunteers stamp valentine cards that come to Loveland, CO, from all around the world with a special cache and postmark. The above card and cache are the designs selected for 2011.

I was informed this week by one of our kids that we have a Valentine's Day tradition at our house. I was told that we always have spaghetti and meatballs on Valentines Day. We do have a candle light dinner with the kids on this day, but I had no idea that we always have spaghetti and meatballs. Since it has now been deemed a tradition I better not make anything else. Another of our traditions is every one gets a small heart shaped box of Russell Stover Candy with 4 pieces of yummy goodness and a valentine from mom and dad.

When you least expect it, traditions can be created that connect your family in delightful ways.

Be Blessed and Love One Another!!! :)

1 John 4:7

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and every one who loves is born of God and knows God.

Project 1.27 Orientation - Northern Colorado

"Adopting and Fostering in Faith"

Project 1.27 Vision:
"No Waiting Children in Colorado Foster Care by 2014"

Are you aware that children right here in Colorado are in need of a forever family?

Did you know that often there are not enough foster families to provide care in emergency situations when children need a secure place to be until it is safe for them to return to their homes?

Project 1.27 partners with counties and churches to train and equip prospective adoptive and foster families.

Timberline Church (2908 S. Timberline Road Fort Collins, CO) will be hosting an orientation for Project 1.27 on Friday, February 18th at 6:30pm in the East Auditorium.

You can register at: project127.eventbrite.com

Spread the news about this orientation!! Your voice may be the voice that enables a family to get the training they need to provide a safe place for a child temporarily or permanently. :)

Adoption is a Journey of Faith

I was recently talking with friends who feel God is leading them on an adoption journey. They have been going through a difficult time, waiting for God to reveal His bigger plan of adoption for them.

Waiting is hard!!! There is no way around it. Being matched with a birthmom and then having it fall through, wondering can we do it again? Can we put ourselves in the position to have our heart disappointed and hurt if it doesn't work out again?

Jeff and I found ourselves in this same position several years ago. The day we were to to travel and pick up our new daughter, the birthmom we had been working with changed her mind. It was devastating!! In my mind and heart that baby was meant to be in our family. I cried for days and asked God "Why? Why is so hard to adopt one little baby, when you put this desire on my heart so deeply?"

The Holy Spirit ministered to my heart through His word and through the prayers and support of friends. Once again we found ourselves opening our hearts, as we submitted our profile to be considered by prospective agencies. During a four month period, we were called many times by agencies saying that they had a birthmom in labor and asking if we would be interested in adopting the baby. We said yes every time. Then, the next morning we would receive a phone call saying that the birth family had changed their minds. The adoption journey is sometimes a whopper of a roller coaster ride of emotions (I don't like roller coasters, by the way).
Finally, we heard from an agency that wanted to match us with a 1 month old baby girl. That asked if we could come and pick her up at the end of the week? OF COURSE, I nearly shouted into the phone. Though the road was painful, God taught me that He had a plan and it could not be revealed until He was ready. There was nothing sweeter than holding our new daughter that God had entrusted to us.

If you find yourself in this position anywhere in your adoption journey - Press In and Press On in Faith that God is leading you to His perfect will for your family.

The promise in Isaiah 40:31 has encouraged me through all the ups and downs of our adoption journeys:

Yet, those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength, they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not faint.

Josh Wilson's song - Before the Morning - speaks to this truth! :)

Created to Connect Conference coming to Denver

Equipping families, churches, and professionals to bring hope and healing to adopted and foster children

What great timing it is for this conference in Denver to coincide with the beginning of our study of Created to Connect in our Adoption/Foster Care Support Group!! :)

Karyn Purvis and the Created to Connect Team will be in Denver on
April 8-9 at Bear Valley Church.

This conference will give you solid tools and resources in parenting the child/children in your life who have experienced loss, trauma and abuse.

To register or learn more about this event go to:
http://www.showhope.org/AdoptionAid/PrePostAdoption.aspx

Created to Connect Study

Classes will begin at Timberline Church on Sunday, Feb. 20th, at 5pm in Room 211. The Study guides for Created to Connect have arrived and it looks like a really great study. I am excited to get started!! It is good to know that other people are on this journey with us in adoption and foster care. We need support and encouragement from one another! :)

Here is a look at the upcoming schedule for Welcome Child Adoption/Foster Care Support Group:

Created to Connect has 12 chapters which we will divide over several months. The study guide is $5.
Some of the chapter titles:
- Hope and Healing
- Solving the Puzzle of Difficult Behavior
- Disarming the Fear Response with Felt Safety
- Dealing with Defiance
- Teaching Life Values
- Healing Yourself to Heal Your Child

Please mark your calendars for our meetings through July.
Room 211
5-7 pm
February 20 - Created to Connect - Introduction
March 13 - Created to Connect - Chapters 1 and 2
April 3 - Mark and Kristin Orphan will be joining us as was previously planned in January :)
May 1 - Created to Connect - Chapters 3 and 4
June 12 - Created to Connect - Chapter 5 and 6
July 10 - Created to Connect - Chapters 7 and 8

We will meet in August and September to finish up this study.

If you have already signed up for childcare you don't need to do it for every meeting. Once you sign up you are signed up for every meeting, through July.

If you need to register your child/children please do ASAP at:
http://fs8.formsite.com/timberline/Childcareenrollmentform/index.html

Filling in the blanks on the form add:

Leader: Jeff and Kari Stewart

Ministry Group Name:
Welcome Child Adoption/Foster Care Support Gro

Adopted for Life

Adopted For Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families and Churches

by Russell D. Moore

This is a great resource for adoptive families and for those who support them.

In the first chapter of this book Russell Moore asks: "What would it mean if our churches and families were known as the people who adopt babies - and toddlers, and children, and teenagers. What if we as Christians were known, once again, as the people who take in orphans and make them beloved sons and daughters?"

Truly - WHAT IF??? Think about it. What if every church responded to the cry of the orphan in our community and around the world by saying, "Yes, Lord, what do you want me to do?"? Sometimes all it takes for an entire church body to respond is for one person to stand up and say "yes". Could that someone be you? :)

A free audio download of Adopted For Life is available during the month of February at:

http://christianaudio.com/free?utm_source=christianaudio&utm_campaign=a45a6017a2-Free_Feb_2011&utm_medium=email