Would you sponsor a child?

Dear Friends,
James 1:27 (NIV)
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
The orphanage where Sarah Beth was cared for while waiting to come home is having much financial struggle at this time. Because of the changing laws in Guatemala, many children - already matched with families - are caught in a system that does not seem to have the best interest of these precious ones at heart.

In the meantime, Eagle's Nest is unable to take in more children because the adoptions are all on hold and no families are allowed to be matched with incoming orphans. As a result, they can not take in children because there are no matched families to provide the needed funds for their care until they come home. When Sarah was there, they were caring for approximately 70 children, they are now down to 24 or less, and they have let most of the nannies go.

Our family is interested in sponsoring a child, the cost is $250.00 a month. When you consider that this covers the cost of full time care, food, milk, diapers, medical needs, etc... it is indeed a small amount. And of course, any amount is small when it provides for the needs of a child. Consider, if you have children in daycare, or dance, or music lessons, etc... what that cost is. These precious ones need these funds to provide for their very basic needs, not for the extras that our children enjoy.

We would like to find friends and family who would be interested in going in with others to sponsor a child, or encourage you and your family to fully sponsor a child and find others who would be willing to do so as well. The Eagle's Nest home is run by American Missionaries, these children are being loved on and cared for in the name of Christ and this ministry desperately needs help RIGHT NOW from the body of Christ.

I urge you to go to their website at www.EaglesNestInt.org, and click on the link for "Sponsor a Child". Here's an excerpt from their website from the "boys" page. They have both boys and girls available for sponsorship. You can see their precious faces and choose one to sponsor. They currently need only 8 more sponsors for children currently in their care, and with additional sponsors, they will be able to take in more children again.

"We have a few faithful sponsors of our little boys without families. Thank you! As you can see they are growing and went through chicken pox and colds and some pneumonia was reported. I wish sickness did not touch children, but we deal with it as will their parents soon. $250 a month is like a car payment for some thank you for those who sacrifice so the babies can be cared for. We are called weekly to take on more babies, but until we have sponsors we can’t take them in. Please consider share this need with your friends. Children Home expenses and Nido Camp and Chapel expenses are separate accounts. The children need your help. “How Can I Help?” pages gives instruction to how you can get involved. God Bless"

I know that things are tight right now for most people. We understand, but there are things we can cut back on to support a precious one. How about you? We would be glad to facilitate putting together a group of people to support a child. Perhaps your Sunday School class would consider taking on a child, or your family members, or a group of friends. Donations can be made directly to the orphanage through paypal. If we can help facilitate, please email me at tnlmcguire@yahoo.com. Or go with your family or group directly through their site and contact them about sponsoring one of these precious ones.

Abiding in His grace, and seeking desperately to die to myself so that HE might live through me,
Lori

"Fastest Growing Cult" ???

Another powerful blogpost regarding the Word of Faith movement...
http://junkerjorge1.blogspot.com/2009/02/fastes-growing-cult-in-world.html

Whew,
Lori

A Journey out of the "Word of Faith" Movement

Dear Friends:

For about 6 months or more I have been following the changes in the lives of a gentleman and his wife. They have come a long way in the Lord, and their experience should be of great encouragment to others. Todd and I give great glory to God that they now have indeed seen HIM for who HE is. This gentleman was a pastor of a church in Clay, and another plumber we know was one of his members. The member told Todd what was going on and Todd and I both were immediately interested. Over the years, we have had a number of frustrated friends in the charismatic, pentacostal, "word of faith" movement.

If you or someone you know is attending one of these churches, or living a life filled with "confessing the Word", I invite and encourage you to read this family's journey at http://faithpreacher.blogspot.com/2009/02/word-of-faith-why-i-left.html. It is truly a work of the Spirit you will want to rejoice in.

Todd and I have had the privilege of meeting this couple, as they have moved to our area recently. The changes the Lord is making in this family is a joy to behold.

Abiding in His grace,
Lori

Updates

It's been awhile since I posted pictures of my girls, so hopefully I can get that done soon. I know many of you enjoy seeing them.

We enjoyed the Heart Ball and the countertops are officially installed and look gorgeous.

My back is about the same. I've been in physical therapy for two weeks now and have about two more to go before I see my doctor again about what is next.

Please continue to pray for me and my family.

In His hands,
Lori

On the Altar of the Lord

Dear Friends,

Many of you know the trials we have faced with our biological children and their medical needs.

I was recently emailed by a longtime friend that her neice is awaiting surgery for a serious, possibly life threatening, medical problem. She asked that if we had any scripture or words of encouragement to share she would like to pass them along to the family.

I chose these verses from my own time with the Lord during my 2nd daughter's open-heart surgery. From Psalm 84:2-3:
2 My soul longs, yes, even faints
For the courts of the LORD;
My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
3 Even the sparrow has found a home,
And the swallow a nest for herself,
Where she may lay her young—
Even Your altars, O LORD of hosts,
My King and my God.

As I sent our 2nd child to the surgery our first did not return from, I laid open my Bible and asked the Lord to give me something for encouragement. Those were the verses that I read. Indeed, that day, I knew in my heart that the precious one I was sending off to surgery was indeed being laid upon the altars of my King and my God.

You see, we parents often think of children as "ours" and yet they have been "His" from the foundations of the earth. It is amazing to me when I consider that. When I think that every moment of these precious ones entrusted to me is in the hands of the Lord, man do I sleep better at night! Every need that I must meet as their parent will be met through Christ in me. Every day of their lives, and mine, have been ordained by God Himself. Psalm 139 says,
16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.
It simply doesn't get much better than that!!

I am amazed at how many Believers will give "lip service" to the fact that God is in control of all things, and yet live their lives as if they are. There are many who walk about totally unaware of the amazing sovereignty of our God.

It is the one thing above all else that I learned the most through the death of our firstborn. I have said many times that although I would love to have my daughter here (who would be 15 this month by the way !) I would not trade that experience if it meant that I would not come to know my God in an even more personal and intimate way.

Indeed, "My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God."

Please remember this precious family in your prayers. The parents names are John and Louann, the daughter - who is 13 - is Cassidy.

Abiding in His grace,
Lori