FREE - Family Fun in Denver!!!

Doll and Toy Museum - Sunday, May 1st, 1-4pm http://www.dmmdt.org/

Children's Museum - Tuesday, May 3th, 4-8pm http://www.mychildsmuseum.org/

Denver Art Museum - Saturday, May 7th http://www.denverartmuseum.org/home

HAPPY EASTER!!

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

John 3:16

There are so many things that I love about Easter. I love the tulips that are blooming in our yard, each one a masterpiece. I love the perfect little grape hyacinths that dot the ground with new life, ever so delicately, even in the rocks. A wonderful reminder to me that even in the rocky places of my life that God can spring up beautiful things in unexpected places.

There is a line that speaks to my heart in Matt Maher's song "Christ is Risen" -

"Beneath the weight of all our sin, You bowed to none but heaven's will.

No scheme of hell, no scoffers crown, no burden great can hold you down.

Christ is Risen from the dead, trampling over death by death."

1 Corinthians 15:55-57

O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH WHERE IS YOUR STING? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law, but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Thank you God for sending you son Jesus to die on the cross and then to rise from the grave 3 days later - giving us the gift of eternal life through your son Jesus Christ!!! We love you Lord - Amen! :)

River Run for Orphans - May 7th at the Ranch

Your participation will make a difference in the life of a child. Sign-up today!!!

Northern Colorado Christian Alliance for Orphans is hosting a 5K event to raise awareness and support for adoption, foster care and orphan relief organizations. This is a great family event with booths, activites and a bounce house. Prizes in each age category and door prizes to be given away!

Date: May 7th, 2011

Where: The Ranch, McKee Building

Race time: 8am
Kids 1 mile run: 9am

Website: http://www.nocoriverrun5k.org/
Register: http://www.active.com/running/loveland-co/river-run-for-orphans-5k-2011?cmp=1745

Each participating organization, agency or ministry will be raising funds independently for their prospective projects.

Welcome Child/Timberline Church is specifically raising money for the areas we are involved in Orphan Ministry and for an Adoption Fund that we will be establishing through Lifesong for Orphans that will support families in our church that say "yes" to adoption. :)

For more information please contact our Race Directors:

Chris Branchflower - brancch@hotmail.com
Karen Markel - markelfamily@comcast.net

Northern Colorado Christian Alliance for Orphans

Thursday - April 21 - noon - Carinos in Loveland -

1455 Rocky Mountain Avenue

If you want to know more about what is going on in Northern Colorado regarding adoption, foster care, mentoring and orphan ministry, come and join us this Thursday!! :)

On our agenda this month:

**River Run for Orphans organization and ministry coordinators meeting will begin at 11:30.

- Siri Newman, Foster Success program at CSU. There are many ways that we can be involved in the lives of these students and be a blessing to CSU as they reach out to them.

http://www.9news.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=169984&catid=188

- Ryan and Kim Mayeda - Through their journey in infertility and adoption they have started a non-profit that will be a blessing to many families.

- River Run for Orphans Update. This is our last meeting before this event on May 7. Please bring items that your organization would like to put in the goody bags to this meeting. Also, bring any prizes that you would like to donate for the our prize categories. We want the prizes to reflect what your organization or ministry is raising money for.

- Orphan Summit VII - It's not to late to register.

http://www.christian-alliance-for-orphans.org/summit-vii

Welcome Child Ministry Team Meeting

It is time for our Quarterly Welcome Child Ministry Team Meeting!

Tomorrow, Sunday April 17 in Room 213 at 5:00pm at Timberline Church.

This is a great time for us to connect with you and share what is happening in Welcome Child ministry here in our church, in community and around the world.

You will be hearing from our ministry leaders individually and from Nick and Kelly Mortellite about their Orphan Ministry Trip to Ethiopia where they spent 1 month serving children at an orphanage.

I am grateful to all of you who are now and for those of you who in the future will be a voice for those who have no voice. God continues to open doors of ministry because of your faithfulness and obedience to serve.

I am looking forward to seeing you tomorrow night!!!! :)

Timberline Church living out "Let Love Live" in Haiti!!

What impact could a couple of short term missions trips have in the lives of the children at Son of God Orphanage in Carrefour, Haiti? A big difference!!! Watch the videos listed below and you will see a physical and spiritual change in the children's faces.

The Medical Team was the first to arrive. Most of the children were sick with fevers, coughs and scabies. Each child was given a physical exam and the necessary medicine they needed to help them feel better. By the time the second team arrived fully dedicating their time to loving on the kids and sharing the love of Jesus through songs, crafts and an amazing field trip (Thank you Brooks!) outside the city the medicine had begun to heal their bodies.

Although the medicine helped the kids physically, I believe more than anything, those in our two teams who held them close and told them how much Jesus loved them and we loved them had an even bigger impact. You can see it on their faces!

We are committed to returning to Carrefour, Haiti to be a consistent presence in these children's lives. A team is scheduled to travel there in June and we will possibly take two other trips again this fall. If you are interested in knowing more about how you can sponsor a child in Haiti or be a part of an upcoming missions trip to Haiti, please contact Sean and Tiffany Cherry at: timberlineorphanministry@gmail.com

You can make an eternal difference in the life of a child!! :)

Merci Beaucoup Brooks!

Your generous heart touched the lives of the kids at Son of God Orphanage! :)

Orphan Ministry Trip

March 12-17

Timberline Church Medical Trip to Haiti.mov

March 7 -12, 2011

Parenting and Adoption

When we started on our first adoption journey18 years ago, I remember someone asking me "Are you going to parent your adopted children the same way that you have parented your birth children?"

I thought this was a ridiculous question. My response was "of course, we will". At the time Jeff and I had 3 children in the 1st grade to 7th grade. We felt confident in our relationship with each other and confident in our ability to parent.

Little did I know that God was going to need to change so many things about "me" from the inside-out. Parenting children who have been hurt does require you to parent differently. It requires you to daily step back and see things from their point of view - from their hurt, from their anger, from their fear.

It made me depend on God in a way that I never had before. My skills were no longer good enough. My past experiences and successes didn't carry over into this new challenge in my life. I needed (and still do!!!) God to so fill my heart and mind that my responses and reactions did not mirror the undisciplined behavior my children were displaying.

Earlier this week an email came to me through Empowered to Connect titled "I used to be a good mom". As I read the article I could really empathize with this mom and her words that came from a deep, reflective place in her heart. I remember saying the same thing about myself: "I used to be a good mom". Here is the link to that article.

http://empoweredtoconnect.org/i-used-to-be-a-good-mom/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EmpoweredToConnect+%28Empowered+To+Connect

If you are in the process of being remade as a parent. I know that it is tough. I also know that the journey is amazing and can even be joyful. Allow God to have his perfect will in your life and to walk you through the places you need to go to be a better parent to the kids that He has entrusted to you.

I would encourage you to read the entire first chapter of James, and want to point out verses 2-4 here:

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Jason Gray's song, "I am New" speaks to God's transforming power and love in our lives and His desire for us to be more like Him. Whether you are just beginning your journey with God or have known God for years and He is pressing into your heart and mind an area that needs to change and to be made more like Him - let the truth of these words wash over your heart and believethat during this season:

- You are chosen

-You are holy

-You are dearly loved!! :)

Orphan Summit VII May 12-14

Orphan Summit is a great place to connect with others who are passionate about advocating for children in need in your community and around the world.

If you are a pastor, ministry leader, lay leader, adoptive parent or are just seeking information on how you can get involved - this event is for you!
God will use each general session, each break-out session and each conversation that you have with people you have never met before to confirm His will for you in Orphan Ministry.
You will be encouraged, equipped and motivated to press on in the areas of Orphan Ministry where God is nudging you to serve.
In all of the general and break-out sessions, you will receive take home information. There will also be opportunities to meet face to face with representatives of local and global ministries and organizations who are hosting table in the exhibit area.
It is good to come together as the body of Christ in this larger setting, so that we can be better equipped to go back to our church homes and communities to walk out in faith and obedience what God has put on our hearts. :)

To find out more about the speakers, the break-out sessions and to register go to:
http://www.christian-alliance-for-orphans.org/summit-vii