Our Inspired Journey

We're taking a short break today to bring you a GIVEAWAY just in time for Mother's Day!

Last week we heard from mothers who never knew that changing batteries on their child's hearing aids or cochlear implants would be written into their job description when they found out they were going to have a baby.  God's way isn't always the way we would've chosen if we were given the chance to choose...but it's always the most fulfilling and abundant one!  There is so much JOY that comes in walking in HIS way with a heart that is truly grateful for the path He has chosen for us.

My dear friend, Jenn is one of those people.  We were so thankful to have met this incredible family when we moved to Illinois.  We grew to love them and the sweet kids God has given them along the way.  Jenn was a part of the group that came to my house once a month to pray for ourselves, our families and our kids over breakfast and of course...coffee. We walked a lot of life together in the three years we lived in Illinois and over breakfast and coffee dates, Jenn and I began asking each other great questions all surrounding the core theme ..."What does following Jesus really look like?"  We concluded (if you can ever really conclude) that regardless of what He asks of us, He never calls us to make any decision out of fear...especially of the unknown...because to God, there is no unknown!  Jenn and her husband, Mark have always had a heart for Africa and have lead mission trips to Ghana, and even prayed about moving life over there to be among those God has stirred them to love across the globe.  In this season, God has called them to something very beautiful.  They've begun the process of adopting another son into their family, from the very place they've visited, ministered in and love.  They will soon be adding another branch to their family tree, but this time, their son won't be brought home in a blanket from the hospital.  He will be flown over from Ghana, Africa...and in that moment, there will be one less orphan in the world, and one more member of this beautiful family.

In order to help with the steep cost of her new son's adoption, Jenn has started making hand-stamped jewelry and selling it through her new business, Plus One Minus One Jewelry.  ALL the proceeds go toward her adoption efforts to bring her boy home, and toward other orphans living in Ghana.  The name of her business sums up her passion..."Plus One" more son to love means "Minus One" more orphan in the world!  There are an estimated 210 million orphans in the world today.  44 million of them are in Africa alone.  I love that my friend and her husband have decided to make a difference in the life of one of those orphans.  Because of their obedience, one little boy in Ghana who right now has no one to call "mom" or "dad"...will soon have a mom, dad and a brother and two sisters!  What a gift and beautiful example of what God's blessing looks like on the other side of our obedience!

With Mother's Day right around the corner, it's a great time to make a visit to her Facebook Page and choose something custom-made for the mom in your life!  What a blessing that the proceeds will mean that her new son will get to celebrate having an an amazing mother of his own very soon...I can't think of a better way to say "Happy Mother's Day!" than to give a gift that will help an orphan find a home.

There's a lot to be thankful for here this month! 

In honor of mothers who have chosen hearing for their children, 

In honor of mothers who have chosen to follow God's call to love the orphans in this world by bringing one home and adopting them into their family,

and most of all...

In honor of God adopting us ALL into HIS family through the blood of His only Son, Jesus and calling us His chosen ones...

it's time for a GIVEAWAY!

One winner will receive this necklace in time for Mother's Day, so act fast!  This giveaway is only up for 3 days so it can be shipped in time for Mother's Day!  Check HERE for more details about the necklace and to check out other items too.  I will tell you that the bead was hand rolled by women in Uganda, many of whom are HIV+ mothers or war refugees, all suffering from extreme poverty.  They are paid fair trade prices for their work and all the proceeds of adding a bead to any item from Plus One Minus One Jewelry will go directly back to helping these women pay for food, medicine, homes and school fees.

I hope you'll order something from Plus One Minus One today!

***

Those of you joining us for Mindful Monday verses, here they are...

(oh, and did I mention we're memorizing three this week?...Don't worry.  You can do it!)

Psalm 100:4

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.  Give thanks to Him and praise His name.

Psalm 100:5

For the Lord is good, and His love is eternal; His faithfulness endures through all generations.

Revelation 4:11

Our Lord and God, You are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, because You have created all things, and because of Your will they will exist and were created.

Again..so timely.  His Word always brings meaning to our circumstances, doesn't it?  I can't think of a better response to helping an orphan find a Christ-filled family than PRAISE to the One who deserves it all.  His faithfulness will be made known in the life of a dear boy from Ghana very soon..He truly is faithful to all generations, and this adoption will change his family tree forever.  May your week prove to be one where because of His faithfulness in YOUR life, you walk with purpose and praise through the hours you're given to bring Him glory...