Are you Comfortable???

Are you Comfortable?

I have been thinking about this a lot lately.

As sinful people we all tend to quickly judge, question other people’s actions, and think we know what is best for others. And as a sinful people when others come at us with concern that comes out as, here is what I think you need to do instead, we get awful defensive, don’t we? I know I do.

So let’s go back to the question… Are you Comfortable???

Most of us, though struck by tragedy at times, are pretty comfortable and secure in our lives, aren’t we?

We like that predictability, and we like to prepare and insure almost everything. You know, Just in case….

We have schedules, and plans for our future’s and our children’s futures. Our lives are figured out and barring no unexpected catastrophe, life is good and sweet and predictable. We’ve worked hard and we deserve what we have worked for. We have all experienced tough stuff, some more than others, and we deserve to just do what we want and make ourselves happy. Our plan will be to just cruise into heaven when the time comes at the ripe old age of whatever and God will say to us “Way to go, you collected all this stuff, and did all these things for you. Oh, and you went to church every Sunday to spend an hour with me and fellow Christians and did a few charitable things here and there. You provided a secure future for your family and rested well in your retirement years. Way to go Good and Faithful Servant...

EEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!(This is my brake noise) :)

Whoa…I am not so certain God would say this, are you? And actually, I really don’t think this is what I want to hear God say to me, his child whom he brought to this earth for a purpose. My only purpose really, which is to do HIS will.

Recently my husband and I have been making decisions, or are on the verge of making decisions that have brought some interesting responses and that make me step out of my comfort zone big time.

I have found that adoption is one of those things that God has willed for our family and one of those things I can’t control or predict one single bit. I have to rely COMPLETELY on God. COMPLETELY!

And here is something I realized. I LOVE IT! I love seeing him move in ways that only HE can do. I have seen him move hearts to pray, to give to families, to support them emotionally, to ask questions so they can understand, and so many more things.

I have seen unthinkable things in adoption that bring about God Moving Miracles and it brings me to tears all the time.

There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t look at my children and thank God for the gifts he has given and the stretching he has done. Because the journey does not end just when they come home, and I have to rely on him as I love them through the hard. I won’t expand on my children’s individual situations here, but they both started out their life with a huge loss and a lot of hard. Sometimes those things effect their behaviors, but I know it, and I just love them that much harder. They are beautifully and wonderfully made.

It absolutely excites me and scares me the desire God has placed in Kent and I’s hearts to bring more children home.

I love how God doesn’t look at our age, our bank account or future plans; he simply just lays his desire and plan on our hearts and asks us to let him carry it through.

That’s it.

No matter how hard it gets, and it is always hard, he carries us through and ministers to our hearts so we can love his children.

I am so in awe of HIS story for our lives. Every Day.

So the conclusion to all this is.. I think everyone should adopt so they can know what I mean.

Ok, not really, I just wanted to see if you were still reading.

I do believe we all need to make a conscience effort to step out of our boxes every day and lean on God to do it.

Instead of making yourself, schedules, and things your priority start the day out asking God to please help you see what he wants you to see for the day, and to do what he wants you to do in every moment of your day.

My family and I have committed to try and do this, and we will fail, we are sinful beings, but we will get back up and face what the Lord has for us.

We are making a lot of decisions and contemplating a lot of things that are soo outside the box, and uncomfortable and it is so exciting; truly!

I wake up every morning, go downstairs, open my Bible, and I just beg God to help me see him, and to be with me, because I NEED him Desperately.

So love, hate, or plain don’t care about what we do or say or ask, but if anything please ask God to move your heart and see the things he wants you to see and love.
Don’t judge, don’t make conclusions, but pray and truly seek him.

It’s amazing what God does to our hearts when we stop talking with our eyes, and just start loving his people even when what they do makes zero sense.

If we all did this I truly believe I would never have to ask others to open their eyes to the need of the lonely, the widow, and the orphans and then to act on it.
Over and over in God’s word it talks about loving each other. It’s hard a lot of times, but more and more I am just doing it. It’s amazing how much this ministers to me and those around me.

So I dare you..

Start loving others truly with everything you have and just see for yourself the beautiful working of our Father. It may hurt and stretch you farther than ever, but it will bring you that much closer to God and his will for you and that friends is EVERLASTING.

Hebrews 6:10

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work & the love you have shown him as you have helped his people & continue to help them.

And the Winner IS..........

OK, the winner!!!

Our friends, the lovely Ripke family won the $500 give a way!! Plus, Our Awesome friends are splitting the winnings between 3 families adopting, AND they are adding $25 of their own to make it an even split! Seriously, how cool is that??? Love it.

This just warms our hearts, and I have been so excited to see what the Lord was going to do with this money. Just Awesome!

I will IM the families they have designated, and Thanks again for all the support and prayers!

Ryan And Sarah, may God bless you abundantly more for what you have given to his children....

Jeremiah 29:11

Baby Steps

First, I again want to thank EVERYONE who shared, donated, offered words of support and love, and prayed during our give a way. We still have funds to raise and your continued prayers for this are much appreciated and never taken for granted. Will announce winner soon!

Baby steps are what my family and I are taking in this journey. We may look like we are just jumping before anything, but what we are doing is actually taking baby steps in GOD’S plan for us and the children he has impressed upon our hearts to be in our family.

You see only HE knows the bigger picture and how this will all turn out.

What he asks of us is to TRUST and to FOLLOW, and to KEEP our eyes on him.

Now I have a confession.

For a long time my eyes, and my heart have focused on the negative we have been receiving and the hurt in my heart that not everyone understands what and why we are doing what we are doing.

No longer will I be doing that. I dug deep into God’s word this weekend and what I have learned is that I am being concerned with Worldly ways and Worldly views, and God’s ways are always best even when it seems crazy or unlikely.

All I have to do is TRUST him and God Does the Rest!

I can’t change hearts, only GOD can.

What I can do is share how he has changed ours and continues to shape them for what he intends.

The Holy Spirit leads and if we allow it God will do great things within us and for others.

Over and over again I have watched adoptive families Give everything they have.

I have watched them pour everything into the children they have, and the adoptive journeys they are on.

I have watched them pray for, give of themselves and their resources, and share with other families when they have need of their own. I have watched them hurt and pray when others having difficult times on their adoption journeys and when they are home with their children. I have watched them rejoice with every little victory and when families are united with their little ones. All the while they are on their own journeys. They understand and they get it and that is why the adoption community grows and we all lean on each other. It is a beautiful thing God has done by connecting us all.

I have also watched God stretch and grow hearts of people that are not called to adopt, but are called to stand with others who are. They too, pray and share in our joy and heartaches.

Every single one of you touches my heart deeply and you are in my prayers. We couldn’t get through every trial, struggle, and moment on this journey without your support and love.

If there is one thing I have heard and read over and over by families adopting, it is they would love to sit down with all family and friends of families adopting and tell them to support them. Show them love and care even when you don’t understand.

They need it; we need it.

But, even when we don’t receive this we have GOD and truly he is all we need. He never leaves us and he has our back at all times.

...Because truly our baby steps are just part of HIS bigger picture.

So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.

~ Deuteronomy 31:6

Give A Way Update

There is still a little time to enter if you want or missed out. We will be compling the list of entries later today and then annoucing the winner.

GOD HAS BLESSED US WITH $1,040.00!!!! Thank YOU doesn't quite seem enough, but Thank You.

We still have another $1,960.00 so please prayerfully consider donating.

Check Back later for the winner!

Thanks, and God Bless!

There is still time to donate....

We are at $1,000.00 out of $3,000.00... See below for details. God is Good!

And for all you local folk, when you go to Mancino's today part of the proceeds will go to the Rice Family's Adoption. You can read more about them here.

Update-We are GIVING AWAY $500.00!!!!!!!

Give A Way ends tonight!
Monday afternoon update** We are at $825 out of $3,000.00. Please keep the prayers coming and please prayerfully consider sharing this give a way with others and or giving. We can't do this without you,God's army, to help us complete this goal and give a child or children a home. We are humbled by everyone's prayers and thoughts of support and all the generous donations so far. God bless you all!

**Saturday Update** As of 3 p.m. we are at $670 out of $3,000.00 in our give a way! We are humbled by your prayers and generosity. Please continue to pray and help if you can so we can reach our goal by the end of Monday. We Love seeing the Lord move, and cannot wait to see who we can bless back with $500!! Thank YOU!


**UPDATE** So far on day 4 we are at $220 out of $3000.00. I love seeing God move hearts, and I cannot wait to see who he will bless with $500!! There is still time to share, give, and enter, please prayefully consider. Thank YOU!! **

Yep, that’s right; we are giving away $500. This exciting opportunity comes along with some exciting news: WE ARE STARTING ANOTHER ADOPTION!


After much prayer and pursuit of God’s will we are going to start a domestic adoption. While we are so very excited to answer God’s call to care for orphans; we cannot officially start until we raise the initial funds of $3,000.

Now let us tell you how about your chance to win $500.

We are going to give $500 from our “first fruits” to help one blessed donor with their own or someone else’s adoption, their favorite mission or their church/synagogue. We are so very excited to see who God will bless through His gift of donations to our adoption.

There are two steps to enter:

1. Go to Facebook and click like, please post to your face book page, blog, or send an e-mail to all your friends telling of our giveaway. (Just make sure to let me know you are doing this so I can track your entry) You can message me on Facebook, leave a comment on our blog, or send me an e-mail at carriestamm@gmail.com.

2. For every $10 you donate you will receive an entry. So if you donate $50.00 that gives you 5 entries plus a 6th entry for telling your family and friends.

How you can donate?

You can easily donate by going to our adoption blog and clicking on the donate button, and your payment will be processed through PayPal. A donation receipt will be provided after you make it. Blog www.itsgodsgospel.blogspot.com

If you do not want to use PayPal you can mail your donation to P.O. Box 430 Archbold, OH 43502.

Please just leave me a message if you are going this route so I can make sure to count your entry.

Easy Peasy!

Our family is stepping out in faith, but it takes God’s army to give a child a family.
I borrowed this statement from another adoptive Ma Ma, and it is so true! We cannot do this without you.

Adoption is truly not for the faint of heart, and it is not for every family. We have to rely on the Lord completely through the good the bad and sometimes the ugly. We not only need your financial support, but your love and prayers especially. We need support to help heal and love the children with whom God is blessing us. We just couldn't do it without you; truly.

So as hard as it is to ask we are asking for financial, emotional, and even more important your prayer support as we seek God’s will in our next adoption.

Let’s see what the Lord can do and give $500 back to Him as we do it!

Give a way starts today and will end on Monday June, 11th! Winner will be announced sometime on Tuesday, June 12th.

Thank you all so much and God Bless!

Psalm 115: 1-2 Not for our sake, God, no, not for our sake, but for your name’s sake, show your glory. Do it on account of your merciful love, do it on account of your faithful ways.