Choosing the Music Over the Noise

As we found ourselves busier than we tho't possible, raising our first child, well meaning people would add their depressed comments so to prepare us for what lies ahead..

As the years slipped by, we continued to receive preparational advice ( much of which we didn't ask for ;) ) about what to expect as we raise, our now, several children.

Sill the years went by, and God would bump us into families that hadn't lost their vision for their parenting and we would catch the perfume of something different...a different kind of music met our ears. It had a beautiful sound, contrary to the noise and clatter of the other...

Looking back it seemed like it was thro' the fog, something greater, something higher, nobler, was calling us... I now know it was the fresh voice of the Holy Spirit. It was awakening within our soul, a longing so deep, to search out this that God was laying on our heart, that it wouldn't be quenched.

Amidst the normal and mundane challenges of life, God was indeed calling us to something higher and nobler..."faithful is He who calleth you, who also will do it"...has been the testimony that has filled our life.

Even tho' for most of our married life, we were in desert settings spiritually, God kept stirring the embers of our soul and we found a great cry welling up within us, to seek out what this was. 

God miraculously transformed our marriage in those years and He sent beautiful families across our path that majorly impacted the vision that He was birthing within us for our family raising, marriage, and life.

I found my handsome Mike stepping up to the plate of fatherhood, and loving attentive husband,  determined to hit a home run, not
because he was confident that he could, but because he was confident that God would. To be honest in admitting he did not want to follow the footsteps of men before him who cause their sons to rebel, but to be the dad they need, a dad who blesses them, praises them and is there for them, guiding them and communicating with them. To be their first hero. It was contrary to the lies we've been fed most of our life. Truth waged a mighty battle within our hearts and it swings some serious blows.

      

We've had to let God do His beautiful sifting in our hearts and separate the noise and clutter, from the music and beauty He wanted to build upon in our lives. We had to trust Him when we were called to live differently than our upbringing. It has been a time of much prayer. Much soul-searching. Having to allow ourselves to be stretched, and allow God to show us His pattern for parenting. And to make the needful changes in our life so we can be the parents to these kiddos that would win their hearts instead of turning them away. And we're still growing, still learning. And meanwhile tasting the beauty of our little family! :) 

We are a continual work in progress and we are excited! Sometimes when we hear Scripture explained to a greater level of understanding than we've ever been used to, it can almost be frustrating! Because it seems so simple that how could we have not known it! But we rest in the Soverignty of our great God that we are confident in. We know He loves our precious children even more than we do, and that is what we rest in that God will continue to reach into our home and family and complete His work. We anticipate our tomorrow's. Some of the lies have been that someday our children will pull away from us in rebellion. They won't want to be seen with us. I remember as a younger mommy fearing that, as so many other "so called Christians" kept warning me of. I would kind of watch for our oldest to turn his heart from us. Then we would see these beautiful Godly families and it was in complete opposite of the lies. Faithfully the Holy Spirit convinced me that God's beautiful design for families was possible in Him. I've stopped believing the lies awhile back now, as there was no place in my heart to room both and have any kind of peace. 

                                        

Now our oldest is over 14 years old (15 years old now! ;) ) and he is such a blessing in our lives! 

                                     

He still flashes me his boyish smile across the room and it definitely causes his mommy's heart to sing for joy!! As he is reaching these youth years, we have been savoring his friendship, his trust, and his choice to walk in integrity and honor. He loves the Lord Jesus! His heart is passionate for God's stuff and God's pattern for manhood. We are honored to call him our son. The choices he is making in his life, amazes us, and we are excited at his future. Just last night I shared with him how he inspires us. He truly does!! When fear tries to rear its ugly self in my life with all it's what ifs.. What if you did not give him the training he needs to keep him faithful? What if lust creeps into his life? I choose to believe, that even admidst our parenting mistakes and inconsistancies at times, that our God is so much bigger than that. Then this mommy chooses instead to pray big prayers for her children. I just recently began to pray differently. Instead of asking that they have the strength to say no to lust and temptations, I pray that the God of strength would come in and fill them with His strength. That is where my confidence rest~in God. 

                        He which hath begun a good work will finish it, scripture promises us. :)

         

(A reminder about our adoption...If you missed the announcement see our older post,  "Twice the Blessing and Double the Expectancy!"

 You will find a donation button at the top right of this page if God prompts you to support this adoption. We thank you in advance for your gift of any amount! God bless you!!) Below you will see we are also still doing the picture puzzle fundraiser. It is $10 to sponsor a piece. We will write your name on the back of the piece and when the puzzle s completed, we will frame the puzzle in a double-sided frame. M and M will see who helped bring them home! So when you donate through the button above, there will be opportunity to leave us a note. :) Thank you!!

                         

Merry Christmas!

There is something about the sights, sounds, and taste of Christmas that stirs within me the memories past and the new ones we're making as even now we live in the glow of cherish-able moments. I know of no other birthday that arouses so much peace, joy, and celebration...except for the birthday of a King!! The celebration that goes on for weeks, but that seem as just days when December 25th actually arrives!

The soft flicker of candles, the mesmerized lullabies of our son finger picking Silent Night..or hearing the sweet words of Oh Holy Night (Which has become another favorite of mine..it was one of my daddy's favorite too. Maybe that's why it stirs me so!)

I also love the brighter lights of Christmas and the glorious proclamation of the more upbeat songs as Joy to the World!! The festivity that reminds us that truly and awesomely there is joy to the world because a King has truly come!! The holiday cookies that kids have lavishly sprinkled with colored sugars, the jovial tones as daddy whips up homemade eggnog...it is all good. 

Interesting enough, 

I remember reading that, long ago God pronounced something else good. The beautiful world He created. It's sad that sin tainted this beauty, but the hope that we have in Christ, the assurance of His redeeming work on the cross returns to us the joy of celebrating!! And with it the return of beauty!! And in light of that, the age old~that miraculously never grows old, beauty, is all good!! I am exhilarated to remember He created us to love beauty!! 

The light in children's eyes, their overflowing enthusiasm and excitement, their contagious smiles and laughter fill our home, and I am reminded again to embrace even closer the eternal gift I have been given! And in turn our smiles become contagious! Our excitement and enthusiasm and the light in our eyes is truly a reflection of the candle burning in all it's luscious glow  within our heart, spilling
over no matter where we are and who we meet.

Here's a touching song by Cris Rice-Go Light Your World

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4ePwMcrkgPs

 And something happens...something only He can do...souls are drawn and  pointed, guided once again by that Star Light. The sweet rescued souls ponder their Silent Night Holy Night reflectively, and as His peace washes over them...all becomes bright.. And a great anthem breaks forth as morning light in all it's glory as they truly taste for themselves, that because of Christ, the joy is theirs in this world!!!

This is so awesome!! The ever-living, breathing, life changing, peace in abundance, life in Christ! It is all good, and our celebration flows from us from truly all that we've been living, tasting all year! 

                                                      A Merry Christmas to you all!

                                     

                                        May His Light fill your heart with peace

                                                            and joy all year!!

(A reminder about our adoption...If you missed the announcement see our older post,  "Twice the Blessing and Double the Expectancy!"

 You will find a donation button at the top right of this page and we thank you in advance for your gift of any amount as God prompts you. Thank you and God bless you!!) 

The Mind Of Christ

I am not sure that this blog will answer the serious question of, "What exactly is the mind of Christ" but perhaps it will lead you to the precious feet of our Saviour and seek the answer from Truth Himself.

Recently, a certain debate, had this argument of the mind of Christ. I saw the stones of piety and religion thrown and sincere answers misinterpreted ...as self composed respones of each ones view were given, about a particular situation, of what is the mind of Christ.

It has stirred myself to much thought...and I have come up guilty. 

We can zoom in on a certain area or two and form to ourself of what the mind of Christ is, and walk away feeling just pretty good about it and perhaps our conclusion is a good one in that particular area.

But if we look at it Biblically you can't take the mind of Christ on as a clothing accessory that some days you wear and somedays you do not. 

And that's where my guilt has recently been. Not intentionally, and yet, quite intentional.....

A few weeks ago, I was walking in a lovely and charming mountin town with my little family. 

I saw and heard there the shuffling footsteps of a man and a bit later, as I paused to look through a store window with my little ones, and he walked past, I smelled the awful stench, the telltale signs of his bondage. 

What is the "Mind of Christ?" Not just in the situations that we feel like excercising it but what is the  "Mind of Christ" in its entirety?

You know, that night, I knew what I should do.... Let me tell you a very short story...

About 12 years before my birth, another old drunk, perhaps sober for the moment, was walking toward a local bar when he encounted a group of strangers holding an evangelistic street meeting...who would have thought that this broken piece of man would start sobbing, convicted of the Holy Spirit, and of the empowering love of Christ Himself as He reached this broken miserable piece of clay?!

That man, was my daddy..(For more check out the blog post, "Filthy Rags Transformed into Armor of Honor". )

Now, you understand better the sorrow I have carried since that day, a few weeks ago, of not truly being the hands and feet of Christ to this wasted bit of drunken man...I knew the secret to life abundantly for him, and I did nothing about it. Or in otherwards, I did not embrace the beautiful mind

 of my Christ.

So back to the debate...We do not need arguementive debates that are oft times filled with self righteousness. Christ has something greater for us!
  

Today, I am deeply grateful to realize that God truly has a greater answer. It has set my soul free...free to love wholly, free to worship, and free to allow the Holy Spirit's convicting voice speak into my life! And therefore free to live victoriously! Thank You Jesus!! 

And it's His gift to each one. May you allow Christ to clothe you with Himself and experience the abundant life He's promised and therefore, truly receive His mind also.

The Best Kept Secret

Tonight our family again experienced the wonder of the His Little Feet concert. We sat there awed, amazed, our laughter mingling with our tears.... In thinking about all this and still absorbing all this beauty hours later, I realized that it is more than pity that we feel for these sweet and vulnerable little ones... It is deep compassion with the strongest of H.O.P.E.  As these sweet ones sing songs of our Saviours protection over them, as they sing of His great love for them.. It absolutely amazes me how the very nature, the very Person, of our God fills that room.. His Presence is Strong and in the moments these little ones sing, there is absolutely no room for doubt in my heart that our Great and Sovereign God does indeed watch over them. He does indeed care verrry verry deeply for them and that these are the most precious of all precious to Him! As I was thinking tonight how these sweet orphaned children are the secret to our Fathers heart and that by missing out on feeling the burden and standing in the gap for these little ones, it hit me,that in reality we are the lost ones, cause we miss seeing the Father truly revealed in and through all this preciousness...

I realized tonight like never before that satan doesn't want us to know this secret. I am ALWAYS drawn deeper in my faith at these concerts as I gaze into the eyes of my sweet Saviour through the eyes of these littles.

I smile now as I type, I am thinking back to about 1 1/2 - 2 years ago when I remember standing on my lovely country porch praying and asked God to literally fill me with Himself so that what I gaze upon would be with His gaze. That my hands and feet would literally be His hands and feet moving...  I have probably never wept like I have in these last two years.. So whether it was the love gaze of my Saviour's eyes through the children, or His gaze through my eyes, is a mystery to me, but one thing I do know, is these little ones need us, because altimately it is Jesus they need and He expects us to be His hands and feet and heart and voice in this earth. And if we aren't weeping for these little ones and if we aren't placing them lovingly into our families who will? If our hearts aren't beating for these little ones and we are to have the heartbeat of God within our chest~ is tragic. He Himself calls this reaching out to His little ones pure religion. And if we don't have it ~do we even have anything at all?!


While not everyone is called to adopt, we are all called to reach out to these children. To protect them, to be a voice for them....

The best kept secret? Feeling the Father's heartbeat through His little children.. Compassion mingled with joy that Christ is their Redeemer stirs our spirit and wakes up the rescuer in us as Truth is revealed. It is the richest of gifts. Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

"Oh, God, oh God, help us to catch Your heart, Your vision for Your sweet and precious little ones."

There are so many ways we can be involved. We can adopt, foster care, or sponsor, we can give, and most importantly we can pray. And prayer is not a cop-out toward action, because our actions will follow the response of true and fervent prayer.

Taking up the Challenge

                         

                                   This is the lovely candle I chose to grace our living room.

This morning I read a beautiful article by "Women Living Well". She posted the challenge for the week of burning a large candle every day and allowing that illustrious flicker to remind us to keep the prayer for peace and patience in our home, daily on our lips...

Who  doesn't occasionally need that reminder?? I love being a sweetheart wife to my best friend, a mother to our children and even admidst all that loveliness I need the reminder from the preciousness of the Word of God to be a builder of my home. And that takes intention. It sure doesn't happen by itself! 

Lately, God has been reminding me of the importance of cultivating a heart relationship with my sweet kiddos...it's not that I haven't known that, it's not that I've never worked on it...it's very close to my heart. But like the candle challenge~It's a reminder....that's what God is faithfully doing in my life...reminding me what are the most important. Reminding me where my focus should or should not be at this time or in this season of my life. And many of the things that I weed from my garden plot called, "time" are not wrong, but for varying reasons, they are not what is most important either..

I relish in the Truth that even tho I do not know what all it really takes to have a flourishing seed of Godly children, He does. ;) He is the Master Builder and as His princess daughter He allows and even delights me into His fellowship and Fatherly counsel!!

I'm a bit of a dreamer...I love sweet stories and happily ever afters!!! And I believe God created us with the capacity to love Him and enjoy Him fully!! I love picturing myself across from my handsome Papa in His beautiful garden...sharing, communing.. It seems like too often, we feel the pull to outgrow God!! I'd rather keep close and savor the reality of a living, breathing, daily relationship with Him!! It is truly ours!!

So for the challenge~I will take my two littlest sugar peas shopping today and we will find our candle of grace..our reminder of our Saviour who is more than willing to bless and fill our home with His peace and patience!!  (We have our candle now!!;))

(A reminder about our adoption...If you missed the announcement see our older post,  "Twice the Blessing and Double the Expectancy!"

 You will find a donation button at the top right of this page and we thank you in advance for your gift of any amount as God prompts you. If you prefer to write a check out to our Church and receive a tax deductible receipt you may make checks payable to: "Ellerslie Mission Society" and be sure to note on the memo blank that it is: "Groff family adoption". The address is: 655 Southwood Lane  Windsor, Co. 80550. Thank you and God bless you!!) 

                        

                                                     Our South American Sweetnesses!!!!!

We are excited to bring our little ones home!! There is still a long road ahead and much financial mountains, but we rest in the Miracle of our Saviour!!!! Please partner with us in prayer!! Many thanks!!!

We are doing a 1,008 piece puzzle fundraiser and it is $10 a puzzle piece if you care to sponsor. Once the puzzle ( of the above picture) is finished we will frame it in a double sided frame. For every piece that you sponsor, we will write your name on the back and our sweet M and M will see who helped bring them home!!!! 

                                                           Thank you!!

                          

        

Faithfulness and Beauty

Autumn is definitely on the way, so I've been hearing. The truth is, I tho't it seemed like it a few weeks ago! To this Florida raised girl, the weather we had last week was winter weather!! It seriously was the kind of weather you hoped would make itself present for Christmas Day in Florida and I always found myself hoping it would be cold all day Christmas! Our little family is quite eager to discover the autumn season with all the changing leaves, brisk weather, hopefully pumpkin festivals in cooler weather~some of the things that we didn't experience in Florida!

The other day as I was in thought to our children's faithfulness in Christ, the Holy Spirit reminded me that my faithfulness and the faithfulness of their daddy is a key factor in that. As God is able to grow, stretch and purify our hearts, that mighty work is also done in the hearts of our children.  But if the Holy Spirit's work is not allowed to purify us of our sin, that has serious consequences that is trickled down to our kiddos.  

 

Now as individuals God will still call our children out and faithfully prove Himself to them, but the whole train up a child in the way he should go, I believe has a lot to do with the work that is first taking place in our own life!! 

At the same time, I rest in the perfection of my King Jesus and trust in Him to be everything that I am not! He so faithfully takes my meager offering with all it's imperfections and He touches it and works His effective work in our children!! Now that is really really an awesome thing to me!! I am still an unfinished product myself, and yet we are raising these precious kids, so it is the faithfulness of a very great God that my trust rest in and it's His blessing that annoints the training we sincerely invest in our precious kids lives!!  

The verse that says if we train up our kids in the way they should go and the promise that they will not depart, has for most of my motherhood, bothered me, rather than bless me! I'd look around as a young mommy, and see all the youth rebellion in the Church, in so called Christian families and I found no comfort in the verse! But God kept pressing me in to Him and the blessing He desires for His children, till I had to look square on the verse and believe it. I still do not have all the different answers, but God says it and I'm choosing to believe it.

 Also, whenever I hear the story of Hudson Taylor's mother being burdened to pray for her wayward son and she spent time in prayer till he actually surrendered his heart to God..  I have mostly been troubled how such a godly woman had a wayward son in the first place-I don't know the answer to that either, but her son completely gave his whole life to Jesus and His work. And he went on to become a man of God. I will continue to believe the promises of God's Word, and continue to allow Him to weed any sin of pride, bitterness, anger, whatever it might be, from my heart.

I am so deeply grateful of the daily blessings of peace and joy that is ours as children of God. It kinda just struck me again this morning, of the beauty that is oursto pour lavishly into every new day and that our homes can spill over with all that is truly lovely!! Today, I've been given the fresh bursting gift of life and I have the honorable priviledge to mother our children, to bless my sweet Mike's life, to live out Proverrbs 31!! 

The more faith I find myself embracing, the more I taste of the fullness of Christ! Our life in Him is rich and beautiful.

Just last night I sadly thought of someone who has lived mostly to secure their own selfish dream- house ( or so I imagine), money....and the broken relationships...and as they approach the end of their life, I see quite sadly, that they are being left with a handful of ashes.. 

On the other hand, as children of God, we live and walk and breathe a Heavenly dream and all of what is in Heaven becomes ours right here on earth~it touches our marriages, our children, our Church family, our personal life in Christ!! Our senses fairly burst at the grandness and greatness of our God!!! The beauty of His sunrise, the whisper of the leaves thro' the trees, the smell of autumn, the magnificent Rockies that proclaim His power and His greatness!! 

                           

(A reminder about our adoption...If you missed the announcement see our older post,  "Twice the Blessing and Double the Expectancy!"

 You will find a donation button at the top right of this page and we thank you in advance for your gift of any amount as God prompts you. If you prefer to write a check out to our Church and receive a tax deductible receipt you may make checks payable to: "Ellerslie Mission Society" and be sure to note on the memo blank that it is: "Groff family adoption". The address is: 655 Southwood Lane  Windsor, Co. 80550. Thank you and God bless you!!)

Sweetly Remembering Who We are Raising~Sweetness of our Mommyhood

The drizzling rain, sipping hot coffee and relishing the quietness before the grand finale of every brilliant color as my children awaken and their day begins. There will be breakfast served, uniforms to dress in, teeth brushed, kisses and hugs and prayers...then the 3 oldest will be off to their twice a week tutoring program which aids them in academical excellence and also disciples their hearts as they continue to discover more and grasp deeper the very Person of our Lord Jesus. 

The two little sugar peas in a pod will play and enjoy the luxuries that just simply comes with home. Little princess is working on kindergarten and loves it!! 

These are fleeting years...I remember a well meaning mommy assure me that these years won't last forever. I am sad for her, because somehow it told me that she has never discovered the overflowing joy-filled honor in her motherhood. I would hold these years close forever if I could. I admit tho' it is nice when your 5 year old can dress herself, or littles get out of diapers and when the children in their budding maturity, embrace what is right and you look on in wonder at the fruit produced in their life. 

But when I kiss them goodnight and say prayers with them and later check in on them to make sure the soft covers are tucked here and there, I am overwhelmed with my bursting mother heart of love for these precious ones and thankfulness that they're all here safe and sound in their sweet little home. Or as I gaze on the beautiful wonder that comes with childhood.

At the same time God is preparing my mommy heart for the day when not only their maturity will be tested, but their wings also. I envision our home as being a welcoming retreat of warmth and safety for them to come back to...to find refreshment. To realize our heart strings were never disconnected even tho' distance may separate us. ( Hopefully only  briefly will the distance separate us!!)

I cannot undo our Lord's great commissioning for His children to be sent out to minister and bring His life and the very reflection of who He is to a dark, lost, and dying world. It is really strengthening for me to keep the vision out before us constantly...to realize fully that we are training them to walk in strength and integrity, to spend their lives fully on serving and rescuing the weak and vulnerable of this world. To be replicas of Christ in all of their life and in their marriages and in their parenthood. 

We are deeply grateful for our Church and Pastor who guides us in our learning to actually know how to read and navigate the atlas that we both held with in our hands our whole life~the precious Words of our Saviour. You know, it's one thing to actually hold the Bible reverently within our grasp but quite another to know how to live it 24/7 victoriously!! Or to actually grasp the truths of its life-changing message every day!! 

    This is while gathering my things from outside because the cool drizzling rain, was finally 

     sending me indoors where it is cozy and dry. ;)     

It's that time of morning where the bustle of excited childhood energy will be filling this house! ;) 

I wish you all a grandness, in Christ, mommy-filled day!! Going forth as He meant us to...serving, loving and raising all these littles and not so littles for Him!!!

A reminder about our adoption...If you missed the announcement see our older post,  "Twice the Blessing and Double the Expectancy!"

 You will find a donation button at the top right of this page and we thank you in advance for your gift of any amount as God prompts you. If you prefer to write a check out to our Church and receive a tax deductible receipt you may make checks payable to: "Ellerslie Mission Society" and be sure to note on the memo blank that it is: "Groff family adoption". The address is: 655 Southwood Lane  Windsor, Co. 80550. Thank you and God bless you!!