Mother's Day Message Link

For those who've been patiently awaiting my Mother's Day message at Newsong, the link is:

http://vimeo.com/4742229.

You can also find it on Newsong's web site at http://irvine.newsong.net/.

Brian and I have been absolutely overwhelmed and humbled by the support and affirmation we've received from sharing our story. I just got another Facebook message today from an old friend who's struggled to get pregnant for years, and even in their adoption process their hitting major walls. I'm so grateful that our story is bringing healing and hope to people like her.

I hope our story continues to be redemptive in our own lives, for those we love around us, and for those we might never meet. Romans 8:28 must be true!

Adoption is a Sacrifice?

I'm learning so much about adoption as we're entering this world. It's like Pandora's box. On a weekly basis we're encountering someone who's adopted, someone who has a passion, someone who wants to help, someone with a resource to offer. It's quite overwhelming. The secret world of adoption... :)

Kathy Shin, an adoptive Newsong mom, gave me a new perspective a couple weeks ago that gave me an "aha" moment. She said, "Some people think that adoption is some big sacrifice that you make to bring a child into your home. But it's not. It's the largest blessing you'll ever receive." Wow. I don't think I ever thought about the sacrifice part of it (other than financial), but she's right. Immediately, I had tears in my eyes as I thought about how much this little girl is already teaching us, causing us to love her, changing our priorities. We're not making any sacrifices. She's blessing us.

Desert Song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZE33ejdgWIY

In December a dear friend of mine miscarried her baby. She sent me this video and it's been a part of both of our healing journeys. I watched it again today in preparation for my message on Mother's Day at Newsong, and I've been crying ever since. Part of the chorus says,

All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship

Those words cut to the core of me. They are true words. And sometimes worship is plain painful, but it's also healing and healthy. One of the worship leaders in this video lost her baby only days before recording this song. She said, " Even in the midst of the battle and the pain, when your in the thick of the mess of it all, you can still declare who God is. He gets bigger in your life, and he becomes the focus. And it starts to put back together those things inside of you that are broken." I guess my tears are tears of gratitude, ever-needing healing, and sorrow that there's still pain.

I hope this video ministers to you.

If you wanna watch our services online this Mother's Day, visit for our 9am, 10:15am, or 11:39am.