Speaking Truth over our kids

Journeying with children who have been through trauma has made me more aware of their need to be filled with truth to battle the feelings they feel.  But in honesty, it has just made me be more intentional with all of our kids to prepare them for the battle they will face in life.
This story starts several years ago and is quite random.  After seeing the movie "The Help", like many others, I was moved and shaken to the core of the issues that existed with race just a few decades ago.  But as powerful as that was, that is not what stuck out to me the most. The most impactful was how Abilene would speak over the child she nannied as she rocked her, "You is kind, you is smart, you is important". She was speaking truth into the heart of a little girl that would always struggle with adequacy, value, esteem. That little girl is all of us, and our children.
After seeing Bob Goff speak a few months ago this stirring in my soul was resurfaced.  He challenged us to speak over each other what we are becoming, call out what God is turning us into.
I was reading in John a few weeks ago and it hit me. I felt like God gave it to me. A reminder to intentionally speak truth over my kids, each day, each night, specific, intentional to that child, what they struggle with and who they are becoming.
John and I spent some time developing these truths. I spent time praying over and delving into their personalities and what the strengths and weaknesses of that personality are. I believe these are close to finished, (other than Levi's maybe, still learning what makes him tick and who God is making him). I pray these will be a powerful tool. We plan on posting these on the kids headboards of their bed and reading them over the kids each night, using them as we pray for that child, and reminding them of who God made them and who they are becoming. I pray these truths are arming them to fight the fight they have ahead of them. These will be something in a matter of weeks they have memorized and they can fall back on when they remember what we "taught" them and when they hit crisis of identity or struggle. I pray God uses these truths to grow in their hearts beyond just the words we say.

Reese



God made you kind, gentle, and generous. (Col 3:12, 1 Tim 6:17-19)
God sees Jesus' perfection covering your mistakes. (1 Peter 4:8)
You are enough because Jesus is enough. (2 Cor 12:9)
We can put our worries at God's feet. (1 Peter 5:7, Matt 6:25)
Prayer changes everything, including our hearts. (Matt 7:7, John 14:13-14)

Wheeler

God made you strong, caring and compassionate. (Col 3:12, Eph 4:32. Deut 31:6-8)
Joy isn't found in having, but giving. (Prov 11:24-25, Acts 20:35)
The Lord stands with you and gives you strength (2 Tim 4:17)
You are God's warrior. (judges 6:12, eph 6:11)
We are replenished as we fill up with Jesus and pour out to others.(2 Cor 9:6-11, Prov 11:24-25, Philippians 2:3-5)


Maran

God makes beauty from our brokenness. (Isaiah 61:3,
God made you servant-hearted, joy-filled and encouraging. (John 16:22, Phil 2:3-5, Gal 5:13, 1 Thes 5:11, Heb 3:13)
You are accepted, Jesus died to call you daughter. (1 Cor 6:19, Romans 5:8, John 6:37)
God is always working for our good. (Romans 8:28)
You are God's prized treasure and he will never abandon you. (Isaiah 54:10, Deut 7:6, Deut 31:6-8)

Levi

You are loved, cherished and accepted. (John 3:16, Is 54:10)
Be strong and courageous in the Lord. (Deut 31:6-8, Ps 27:1
You were made to be in God's story. (Matt 28:19-20, Eph 2:10)
God is bigger than our mistakes. (1 Peter 4:8)
God made you joyful, caring and unique. (Ps 139:13-14, Rom 15:13)

I pray you take time and pray over what truth God wants you to speak over your child. Maybe it's nightly, maybe it is changing as their circumstances change, maybe it is a way you want to call your child into who the Lord is making them to be. Join with me in this.

What truth does your child (or spouse, or friend) need to hear today?
Comment below for a chance to win these handmade dolls by my good friend Natalie who is raising money for their adoption!
(If you want to custom order a doll: hair color or style, fabric color, outfit, etc, email me and I will put you in contact with her to purchase one!)
In your comment also include a 1 or 2 for which doll you want! (1- doll on left, 2 doll on right)

Sinai Center Announced!!!

It is with such great excitement that our center has been selected and in the staffing stages currently!

The "Chapel Hill Center" is now the Sinai Center! 



Our center has been placed in an area of great needs. Sinai is a large slum in the east side of Nairobi. It is an extension of the larger East Land Slums of Nairobi which has a population of around 1 million people.  The Sinai community (all pictures taken by Kenyan Care for Aids staff in Sinai) is estimated to have on the upside of 200,000 people.  Some sources say since the people of this slum are "squatters" there are few public schools for this slum and most cannot afford the fees for private schools here. On the Nairobi Slum Inventory report it states that the open area in the mid community is used as a garbage dump and play area.  In September of 2011, an oil pipeline nearby burst sending oil running through the slum. Hundreds of people went running for the "liquid gold" to try and grab cans full to sell. A spark somehow caught fire and a river of fire exploded through the slum killing hundreds and injuring even more. Corpses scattered the community, stacked on top of each other and piling up in the river from people trying to put the fire out on themselves.  
This community has seen a lot of poverty and high unemployment and disease. A large portion of the population does illegal brewing and has a large problem with excessive alcohol consumption. Its concentration of HIV/AIDS is astounding. 
We are so excited to launch our center here, partnering with an African church called Jerusalem.  We are currently staffing the center now and hope to open Late May! 80 Families will be selected based on some of the greatest need to engage with Care for Aids in a few short weeks. We are so excited that by the engagement of our community, God can change the face of their community. The need is great, God is bigger, and great things are coming. I hope you and your family and friends join us as we travel there March 2015 to see all has done in the first graduating class of the Sinai Center. We only have 2900$ left until our center is fully funded for the first operating year! There is still time to give HERE
 Here is what these funds go to:
720$ monthly- Food for families enrolled in center and other provisions
400$ monthly- Salaries and benefits for center workers
160$ monthly- supplemental medication for clients
80$ monthly- empowerment and trade teaching seminars
80$ monthly- Program supplies (journals, record books, storage, phone cards, etc)
300$ monthly- Center oversight staff and accountability
200$ monthly- Kenyan Administration
=
2000$ monthly, 24,000$ annually

Again, like I said in this post, throw guilt out the window, but this is why we are hoping to connect with families and people who are engaged in this mission long term.  Our center is nearly funded for the year, but we know our center will be in this community at least 5-10 years until AIDS is controlled and every client served in this slum.  We hope again that you pray for how God is leading you to get involved! For some it will start with praying, some it will start with giving, and for some it might need to start with Going! 
We are so excited for all God will do through this center.  Just the other day, I had a tough day with 4 kids at home, some sick, the house a mess, preparing for company. Yet deep in my soul I had such excitement that thousands of miles away there are little girls and boys who think they will lose their parents within this year, but God has other plans. He is about to change the future of their family, their parents will regain their strength, they will not be orphans, their family will meet Jesus maybe for the first time. It honestly brings me such joy. I pray the same for you, that God will strike deep purpose in your heart and bring you such joy out of your obedience to his mission, to love the least, fight for the fatherless and the oppressed, the hungry and the sick. 
Join in, Lean in, Be the change.

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
    and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
    and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry
    and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
    and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
    and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness[a] will go before you,
    and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
    you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
    with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
    and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
    and your night will become like the noonday.
 The Lord will guide you always;
    he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
    and will strengthen your frame.

Isaiah 58