Overpopulation Is a Myth

Good News!

Good news from Africa! The Lord has begun to turn the hearts of the tribal people away from the superstitious mingi practice that leads them to drown or abandon their children. Here's an excerpt from the Drawn from Water blog:

The meeting is over in the tribes and Lale has returned beaming with pride for what was accomplished. What started out as a meeting in one village with 60 people ended up being in two separate villages over the weekend and included nearly two hundred people! Lale said that there were people who had killed mingi children in the past crying and repenting for what they had done and in the end everyone there made a pact to try and stop the belief in mingi in the entire 130,000 people that live in the three tribes as soon as possible. Lale is planning another follow up meeting in the coming months to ensure that the progress continues and that the people who made the pact together feel supported.

We are so thankful that the meeting went well and that progress is finally being made, please continue to pray with us that these tribes start to see the light and know that what they are doing is wrong.

Also, Lale met with a family who is pregnant with a mingi child who was planning to kill the child. They agreed to give over the baby Lale when its born instead of killing it. The mother is 7 months pregnant and so we are expecting to have a newborn in the orphanage soon!

Levi

True Beauty

Last spring, while Paul and I were in Las Vegas (he was attending a business conference), I had the wonderful opportunity to spend uninterrupted time alone with the Lord, seeking Him and letting Him speak to my heart. I found, to my dismay, that I was overwhelmed by the false images of beauty that surrounded me there. I couldn't just dismiss them as I'd hoped. Every billboard and sign seemed to mock me with how far short my body fell of the ideal presented. I knew that Paul said he found me beautiful, but I had such a hard time believing him. I knew that God must see things differently than what was presented there, but I couldn't imagine how. So, that first day, I spent the morning asking God to reveal true beauty to me. His answer so far exceeded my expectations that I have not struggled with this issue in a serious way since. (I had been struggling with this for years, ever since our rather disappointing honeymoon experience which I have shared in person before and may blog about sometime.)

Today I read a blog post that made me realize many women struggle with this issue. So I think it's time for me to share what God shared with me. Here is an excerpt from my journal. I hope it helps someone else as it's helped me.

Lord, teach me what is beautiful to You. You call me beautiful and flawless (Song of Songs 4:7). So does my husband. But I have such a hard time believing it. This week in Las Vegas, surrounded by seductive beauty advertised on billboards, signs, and flyers, I am confronted with the kind of beauty I inwardly desire. I compare myself to it. I feel that if I could attain it I could capture my husband's heart more fully. For if I looked more like those women, wouldn't he be so satisfied with me that he'd lose the temptation ever to look at another? Can't I have that kind of beauty?

This is how the Lord answered me in the quiet place of my listening heart:

"No, my beloved. I don't want your heart to lust after that kind of beauty. It is passing at best. I want you to pursue the kind of beauty that captures My heart. You already have this kind of beauty, and you are growing more beautiful daily. Let me remove the false idol from your heart.

"I am altogether lovely (Song of Songs 5:16). Do you think that I look like a fertility goddess? No, I look like My Son. Am I less because I look like a humble servant? A broken, bleeding man on a cross? That is the kind of beauty I want for you.

"Beauty is your face laughing at the day to come as you so fully rely of Me that its challenges don't daunt you (Proverbs 31:25). Beauty is your eyes looking with love on the ones I have given into your care. Beauty is your hair tied back so it isn't in your way while you work. Beauty is your body getting up in the morning to seek me and prepare breakfast for your family. Beauty is your belly stretched and marked by carrying My children. Beauty is your heart that keeps giving, your back that keeps bending, your hands that keep serving even when you are weary.

"Your husband does not desire to embrace another woman. That is why he turns away his eyes when their images are flaunted before him. He knows that they are a deception. I have already removed that false idol from his heart. Let me remove it from yours as well.

"Your husband does desire to embrace you, his wife. You are the one who serves him and his children and then, at the end of the day, turns to him with a heart full of love. Your body is beautiful to him. He does not see scars and callouses. He sees love.

"How could he not love you? He loves Me. He loves what I love. You are my good and perfect gift to him (James 1:17), matched to him in every way. You are the one he needs and wants. He desires no other to share his bed, his heart, and his life.

"Just as My Son did not wear his full glory when He walked the earth, neither do you. Just as He will soon be revealed in His full beauty, so will you. The world does not value His beauty. He was despised and rejected by men (Isaiah 53:3). But those who have eyes to see know that His beauty surpasses all others.

"I have eyes to see your beauty, My beloved. And you have captured your husband's heart with just one glance (Song of Songs 4:9). He is captivated by you. You are a work of art, My masterpiece. I see it, and so does he. Receive his love. Receive My love."

I pray that these words minister to your heart as they minister to mine.

Happy Birthday, Thunder!

Our little firecracker, appropriately named "Thunder," was born two years ago today.

Many people helped during the long periods of partial bedrest needed to help keep him safe before he was born. Here are pictures of some of them.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Thank you all! Love you!!

The Dream of a King: Glory in Ethnic Diversity

I just finished listening to this sermon by Stuart Greaves, director of the International House of Prayer in Kansas City Night Watch. It was very encouraging to hear this honest, hopeful message about unity between races and cultures given in his warm, transparent manner.

The sermon starts about an hour into the video if you want to skip ahead.

Enjoy!

"The Dream of a King: Glory in Ethnic Diversity" by Stuart Greaves

"Black Children Are an Endangered Species"

While writing a paper for my undergraduate degree about Margaret Sanger, I became convinced that there is a real agenda to erase "unwanted" people, including those of "undesirable" races. This video helps make this chilling reality clear.



"Jesus, I plead Your blood over my sins and the sins of my nation. God, end abortion and send revival to America."

For more information on this topic, click here.

See? I Really Did Meet TobyMac!

As I posted on Facebook, Paul and I got to meet TobyMac a couple of weeks ago at the KLOVE/Air1 Radio staff banquet. We had such fun enjoying the private concert (my husband has SUCH a cool job!) and chatting with him for a few seconds after the photo was taken. When I mentioned how I've made my six kids wait in the car while I finish listening to his song, "Made to Love," he said, "Oh, you have six kids?" I expected him to continue with something typical like, "Wow, that's amazing." But what he said totally surprised me. He said, "We have five!" Paul confessed that we "cheated" by adopting one of them, and he told us that they had adopted twins. Suddenly, in our brief meeting, we went from strangers to friends.

Drawn from Water

Children are being killed in Africa for no good reason. But Drawn from Water is rescuing them! They need 76 new supporters to help support the children than are being rescued. They are on their way to hopefully rescue five more right now!

Please read this blog post and consider whether this is something you can help with.

http://www.drawnfromwater.org/archives/588

I Am Thankful

I am thankful today for:

• "Road rally" of cars under the table giving mute testimony to children's play.
• Gentle worship of the IHOP-KC prayer room streaming from my computer.
• Knobby, twisty curls in my daughter's hair.
• Smell of peanut butter and syrup on pancakes.
• Sound of laundry churning.
• Warmth inside while it's cold outside.
• Glow of lamps on dim day.
• Children mesmerized by "Gospel of John" while I'm too fuzzy to lead Bible time today.
• Husband who loves, loves, loves me just the way I am.
• Return of sister from vacation.
• Sleeping baby curled up in crib.
• Cry of baby wanting mommy ... me!
  

What are you thankful for?

A New Name

Here is an excerpt from a letter that I sent to our baby's birth mother recently that I would like to share with you as well:

Over the past few months as Paul and I have gotten to know Alana, prayed for her, and asked God what He says about her (as we do for all our children), we have constantly gotten the impression that she is His treasure, His crown, his precious pearl. We speak and sing this identity over her every day. We are so honored to be entrusted with someone that He prizes so highly.

One thing that we have realized during this time is that we feel the need to give her a name in addition to the beautiful name that you gave her. As her parents, we want to impart to her an identity as part of our family. We feel that if we do not name her ourselves, we will not be giving her what is her right as our child: a name from her parents' hearts and from God's heart to her through us. We have been praying about this and felt led to these verses in Isaiah 62, "... You'll get a brand-new name straight from the mouth of GOD. You'll be a stunning crown in the palm of God's hand, a jeweled gold cup held high in the hand of your God" (verses 2-3). We were amazed that so much of what the Lord has spoken to us about her was right there in these verses! We looked up the Hebrew word for crown and found the name we were looking for: Atarah, which means "crown."

I hope that you understand our hearts in this. We still love Alana Michelle and will keep those as her middle names. We believe that God spoke those names to you as an important part of her identity. And He used them to help us know that she was meant to be our daughter! We will simply add another name and she will be Atarah Alana Michelle. (Plenty long name for a little girl whose life is already making a big impact!)

We heard back from Jennifer soon after sending the letter, and she told us that she loves the new name! Atarah likes it too. We call her Atarah, Alana, Tah-Tah, Precious Pearl, Princess, etc. God is good!

Christmas 2009

We had a fun Christmas celebration at the Stroups' house. It's always fun to see all the cousins together.

Day in Tahoe

Laura gave me the BEST birthday present ever! A whole day alone with my best friend!! She (with Grammie and Grampie, who came to help) was quite on top of things at home with the kids while we escaped to Tahoe for the day.

The sun was too bright so Paul was hiding behind me.

He tried valiantly to open them ...

... to no avail. I gave up. We had a good laugh though.

I Will Trust You

How to even express what I am thinking? I am grieving for Derek's wife Renee, for his children, for his brother and sister-in-law, for his nieces and nephews, and for the rest of his family and community. But I am also grieving for myself. I lost a hero this week. He was more than a preacher I heard once. He was a knight in shining armor, riding fearlessly into the dragon's cave and rescuing damsels in distress. He was a husband adored by his beautiful wife. He was a father who poured out his heart for his children. The frustrating thing is saying "he was." Why am I not saying "he is"? He should still be here with us. Still riding out ahead, still making wrong things right, one life at a time.

To quote Randy Bohlender, "This really stinks."

"God, help me understand! What are You doing? What are You thinking?" These are the questions that have hit me really hard today.

Derek still "is." To put it in Jesus' words, Derek has fallen asleep. But then why can't we wake him? Why can't he wake up tomorrow, kiss his wife, swing his kids around in his arms, and venture out to save the world again? For one simple reason: he "is," but he is not "here." "Here" is where we want him to be. God, send him back! Why did you take him now?

I feel like I'm looking at a picture of reality from one perspective. From here it looks like sadness and tears. The colors are flat, dark, and dreary. If I could just tilt my head a little one way or another I would see in 3D and the picture would suddenly become breathtakingly beautiful. It would be infused with light and color, and all the darkness I see now would become the contrast against which God's perfect plan would shine more brightly.

One question that I have heard whispered in my soul is this, "Who are you trusting in?" Oh, that hurts to hear, but there is comfort in it too. Whose job is it, really, to care for Renee and her children? Ultimately, it is God's. He is their true joy, their true protector, their true provider. He is the rescuer of the innocent, the comforter of the brokenhearted. Derek was bright because His Spirit shone through him. And HE has not left them. He will not.

You WILL NOT forsake them. Never. Not ever.

And so, though the picture has not yet shifted for me, I will trust You.

To quote Stephen Curtis Chapman, "Though this first taste is bitter, there will be sweetness forever."*

Let forever come.

*(From "Our God Is in Control" on the album Beauty Will Rise.)

Merry Christmas from the Swagertys!

Fun times at Grammie and Grampie's today.

Changing Perspective

My Daddy sent this to me in response to the news about Derek Loux. What an amazing earthly father I have.

There was this guy that came by and told everyone that they needed to change the world one child at a time. I missed it. I wasn't there to hear him but my oldest daughter and her husband tried to explain how the little flame that had been in their heart had been ignited into a torch by this guy. I kinda understood what they were saying and what they were were about to do but I was so unsure. But because I have full confidence in their ability make mature decisions and to hear God I was able to jump on board their adoption adventure. Soon after they adopted Alana, a newborn. She is beautiful, then a month later they birthed their 6th child. A little boy they call Tayan. I'm beginning to get it now. These kids need them! Need people like them to protect and love them.

I remember long ago having the feeling like we could adopt and do something special for someone. It didn't work out for us but I remember the feelings and the desire to make a difference in a child's life. But that was so long ago... Our other daughter is now pregnant with her sixth and they are looking at adopting another! This all seems so backwards. Aren't families getting smaller. Giving more to less? And the risks; they are so many, the work is so hard, the future is so dim, but they do it anyway! Why? Cause it is the direction God is sending them? Cause one child needs them to do the unusual. Cause they have hearts as big as the moon and my kids cannot just standby and do nothing so they take responsibility for others children with no needed or expected compensation. I think I'm am getting there.

No I didn't hear that guy speak but I do see his words. Why do I even bring it up? Cause I was just listening to his song today. It was a song of a lonely child that needs to be cared for and loved. As I watched the slide show on his website the words of the song sliced my heart. Pictures of his wife and many kids passed by, then the whole family transitioned to the top and he looked proud and strong. This man had set the pace. He raised the bar for us all. I wouldn't have even taken the time to listen to the song except I heard of the accident and I remembered he was the one who inspired my family. He died this morning and I had to know who he was so I went to his website and.... well I know many will cry and some will wonder why, but all are blessed because he was here.

By the way, Daddy, we are following your example of always giving yourself for others. You led the way. We are simply taking it the next step. Love you!!!

Please pray for the Louxes

I am heartbroken today for Derek Loux's family. He died in a car accident. You can read about it here.

Derek came to our church last year and spoke passionately about orphans, adoption and human trafficking. It was at that meeting that the Lord confirmed to Paul and my hearts that we were to begin the process of adoption. As a result, we have been blessed with our beautiful daughter, Atarah Alana Michelle. I just talked with a friend who also adopted this year, and she said that the Lord put adoption on her and her husband's hearts as a result of his message that night as well. It was not only his words but the fact that he lived out his message that made it so compelling.

Some of the things that he said have never left my heart. One was his encouragement to say YES to God regarding caring for widows and orphans according to James 1:27 and Isaiah 58. To go ahead and go for it even if it seems impossible (in our situation, already having four young children, and as it turns out, also getting pregnant partway through the process). God is our good shepherd, he reminded us, and He won't give us more than He gives us the ability to handle. So He will close doors if needed.

Another one that we often laugh at (as we relate all too well) is that he would rather say a few cuss words now and then by being stretched with a challenging life than live safely and never allow his character to be tested as he lives all-out for God. (He said it much better than that, of course.)

And, my husband's favorite, "I am no good at selling myself, but I can sell orphans. Wait, I didn't mean that the way it sounded."

I can't help but think how wrong it is that the family of such an outspoken advocate for widows and orphans now has lost their own husband and father. But I saw on their blog that they were recently able to go on vacation together as a family. My heart is comforted with the evidence that God was not surprised by this, as He gave them sweet times together just in the past few weeks. I am praying that He will use Derek's passing to WREAK HAVOC on Satan and all his diabolical plans.

Please keep this precious family in your prayers.

Perspective

Today I read this article about an adopted three-year-old daughter. It touched my heart and immediately I began praying for both mother and daughter. Then I read this article, which helped me to see things from God's perspective. Lord, bring justice to Emma and all children who have been abused before they were even born!

By the way ... thank you

While I'm on the subject of Thanksgiving, I want to say thank you to those of you who have been praying for our adoption expenses to be met and those who have given to help us. I am happy to report that we have received enough money to pay the lawyer! We know that the Lord will provide the rest at the perfect time.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here are some pictures from Thanksgiving. We had fun fellowship with Paul's parents and grandparents, Vivie and Chimere Bussey, Chimere's dad Finis, and Marya Morgan. TONS of yummy food. Some of us played two games of Mexican Train while others enjoyed the movie Ratatouille. And we all fit at the new table for dinner!

Second Best?

Daughter,

You are precious and beloved. I have longed and prayed for you many years before you were born. In no way could you ever be considered second best in my heart. Beautiful flower transplanted into my garden, if anything, I may tend to spoil you a little because I want to make sure that your roots are firmly established in the soil of love.

One emotion that I was not prepared to feel, though, as your mother, is fear. How you will see me as you grow into a woman? Will you love me? Or will you resent me? I have chosen to be your mother, but you did not choose to be my daughter. I am sure that you will wonder about the one who gave birth to you. It is a normal and healthy thing to do. I hope that you will love her and be blessed with a close relationship with her. I am glad that we have an open relationship with her so that you will always have all your questions answered and, I hope, all your heart's needs fulfilled.

But where does that leave me? Am I the "other" mother? Does that make me less? Am I second best? One night as I prayed to have my heart unlocked toward you more fully, the Holy Spirit revealed this fear lying deeply in my heart. I heard His gentle whisper,

"So what if you are second best? Will you love her any differently?"

There you go. My fear out in front of me, waiting to be dealt with. How would I answer? There was no hesitation.

"No, I will not love her any differently. Whether or not she ever returns my love, I will love her with all my heart."

So, my precious pearl, I am yours forever. No matter what you choose to do with my heart, you have it today and forever. You always have, and you always will. I love you.

With all my heart,
Your mommy