A Place Called Simplicity

Our Boatload of Dreams.....

Welcome to A Place Called Simplicity.

We invite you into our lives with one goal in mind: that you would be encouraged to live simply and truly love one another.

As many of you may or may not know, on January 14, 2009 in the early morning hours, our home burst into flames. Dw was out of town and I was home alone with our six youngest kids who were still sleeping. The devastation and necessary healing process of our home burning down is something that we could not have imagined until it happened to us. For the full story of God's miraculous protection, please head over to "Special Posts" on the sidebar....

When the fire broke out I had been home less than 4 weeks, having just returned from Africa where I was able to miraculously bring home treasure #9 - Elizabeth and treasure #10 Elijah (who were 1 and 2 years old at the time.)

If you are need of encouragement or wonder if God is able to move your mountain, please head over to the sidebar where Special Posts are listed. Start at Our Wild Adventure Part 1. You will be reminded of Almighty God's deep love for the orphan and how He will move mountains on their behalf....we call Him the Miracle-Working, Mountain-Moving, Awe-Inspiring, Gasp-Giving God!! Yippee Jesus!!

I am humbled beyond words and ever so thankful that the Lord is fulfilling a promise He gave me way back in 1982..."making the barren woman to be at home - the joyful mother of children" (Psalms 113:9). How I praise His name!!

Friday, November 20, 2009

A Favor

If one were to go back and read thru A Place Called Simplicity, you would find (I think) that there was only one other time that I have asked for a favor.

On July 21st I wrote what I entitled Would You Help Me Please? In that post I shared about my sweet bloggy friend, Cindy. She was dying of cancer and she was a mom of 10. I asked if you, my bloggy friends would fast for her healing. If you are new to fasting I would urge you to go back and read that post.

Anyway, after reading that post many of you committed to fasting for Cindy's healing. Many, many of you prayed for her. As you know, Cindy lost her battle with cancer just a week later. My heart still grieves. But in the midst of the profound loss of Cindy, there was something very miraculous going on . Many of you had never fasted before. Many of you had never participated in a group fast. All of you were moved. All of you prayed with fervor for this Mom of Many. It was overwhelming to me the care and concern you all had, and most not knowing Cindy at all. My eyes fill with tears at what God did that day in the bloggy world.

There is no doubt that God is using the bloggy world big time. I know I have found such encouragement from so many of you. I have been buoyed and blessed. I am overwhelmed at the friendships I have formed thru the blogging community.

From time to time I get requests that people want me to share here. I have to pray and discern what the Lord would have me do. Yesterday I learned of a situation that is grieving my heart. I immediately knew I needed to talk to you, my sweet bloggy friends about it.

So here's scriptural background.....

God's word is clear: "To whom much has been given, much will be required." Those who know much, will be required more!! There is no doubt - we who know much (as in the technological world) will be required even more!

God's word is also clear: We have been on planet Earth for one purpose - to honor and glorify God in all we do. It's definitely not about us! We are not here to live comfortably and sit back fat and sassy. We will give an account how we spend our moments, hours, days, weeks, months years and ultimately our lives.

So what's the deal Linny?

Over the last few years I have become convinced that God's hand of mercy for our free world has been extended far beyond what we deserve. He has put up with Christians being self-absorbed and selfish. He has watched as relatively few have responded to do something for others. He has noticed that many, many, many Christians have settled into a comfortable lifestyle, pretending they know nothing about what's going on.

Yet, His word is clear:

Proverbs 24 tells us that if we pretend to not know what is going on, yet we really know, we will be judged accordingly.

So here's the situation....

Just days ago the Canadian Government has stopped all VISA's allowing treasures to be adopted from Africa. They have said they need to investigate further before they will open up again.

Our Canadian bloggy friends who have jumped thru hoops and fulfilled all the necessary requirements are sitting in Africa unable to bring their little ones home.

Now one could say, "Okay, Linny, so there are some families affected." But I say, "This is much bigger than what meets the eye."

Friends I do not believe that this is just a little setback. I believe that the enemy of our souls would like to stop Canadians from adopting from Uganda. Next it will be another country, perhaps China. Perhaps South America.

What Canada does, often the US eventually follows suit.

I believe that we must act NOW. That we must pull out all the stops before it is too late. I believe we MUST fast NOW. We must fast and beg God on behalf of the orphan. His heart is for the orphan. His heart wants every orphan in a family. His heart wants us more concerned about the orphan than we are about what we have planned for tomorrow. He wants us moved with compassion for little ones that we haven't met or held. He wants to step out of our comfort zone and get on our knees. He wants us to pray like we haven't prayed before.

Theodore L. Cuyler said this: I do not believe there is such a thing in the history of God's eternal kingdom as a right prayer, offered in the right spirit, that remains forever unanswered.

(Interpretation: God will move if we pray for the orphan with right hearts!)

When Dw took the team to Africa two of the bloggy friend men along started the process to adopt. One man, Justin, from California adopted Isaiah and is now home with him. James though, is from Canada and he and his wife, Cheremi, started the process for Ezekiel and Keysia. (I held Ezekiel when I was there getting Elizabeth and Elijah last December.)

Anyway, James and Cheremi have been to Africa to complete the process. They have jumped thru all the hoops and Cheremi flew home leaving James to complete the process and bring home their two newest treasures. At the same time, there is a couple also from Alberta (same province) who are one step ahead and learned that they could not bring their little one home because Canada has halted all VISAs for kids coming home from Uganda. James is right behind in the process. There is no doubt that this situation needs to be stopped - now!

On behalf of the orphans of Uganda would you be willing to fast with me either Saturday or Sunday or Monday to see this decision rescinded? Would you beg God to move on the Canadian Government to reverse their decision? Would you ask God to "turn the heart of a king"?

Would you ask God to open up more countries around the world? Would you ask God to move on Christian's around the world's hearts to begin to care for the orphan? Would you ask God to break your heart afresh for the orphan? Would you ask Him to see what He sees? Would you join me? Please?

A Favor From My Sweet Bloggy Friends

I am literally running out the door to head to Farmington. But I have a favor to ask each of you, my sweet bloggy friends. I don't have time to explain it right now, but will when I get back, so could you check back in a few hours?? I will be back asap as I cannot wait to spend time with our surprise visitors from yesterday (see previous post). Check back in, please.......

Thursday, November 19, 2009