We did a spirit filled Treasure hunt!

Ladies,
We did the coolest thing on Sunday! We did a treasure hunt for Jesus! My heart has been so convicted. I feel like if I were to die, many would come to my funeral saying how I did and this for Jesus and that I am godly, my kids would be like "WHO are they talking about?" I don't want my faith to be compartmentalized from the rest of my life. I want to share what I do WITH my children. They are the next generation and will need to experience that same resurrecting Holy Spirit that I do as they go out into the world preaching. However most ministries force you to work without your children while I wish to include them. I used to feel the same way, but now I have had sort of a paradigm shift. I want to do "family missions/ministry."

It is neat as we have been praying to do great works for Jesus together as a fam, when Kim ( now in China) mentioned that her Vineyard does a mission outreach that includes children! they WILL BEGIN FEEDING THE HOMELESS in Santa Ana AND other neat things as a family. I got to experience the TREASURE HUNT first hand last Sunday. We went to VCC (Vineyard in Aliso Viejo. ) At Sundays at 3:00 pm in the Prayer Room. We were a bit skeptical at first as we are Calvary Chapelites and they usually don't have this type of activity. :-) I remember thinking "GREAT God's not going to use us, were TOTALLY LATE (probably missed the move of the Holy Spirit! ;-) AND I didn't spend the day in fasting or praying or anything so there is NO WAY He'll use us. (like my works based legalism? ha-ha. There was soft music playing in the back and folks were quietly praying and trying to hear form the Lord. They then came over and laid hands on us (even the little toddler laid his chubby little hands on us to pray!) and prayed that the Lord would open up visions and a word of knowledge for us. Afterward they asked if anyone got anything to come and speak it into the mic. One little boy (6 years old) got up and said he saw "dark green benches and chairs that were empty." Another got up (ages 4 or 5) and saw "Rubio's", a mom came up and said she heard the verse. "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But desire fulfilled is a tree of life." Oddly enough, my hubby said that for some reason the name "Robert" came to him. He asked if anyone there was named Robert. I told him that "no, one of the men was named Joel, another named Rod, but not Robert. " We shared what Huatzin received and they said that that was pretty neat as usually they don't get names, they get pictures but not names. I got nothing. GOOSE EGG! ;-)

Anyhoo, we prayed again then headed off over to Rubio's, by the church. It was SO weird. SURE ENOUGH when we got there, there were DARK GREEN BENCHES. They were empty just like the boy saw it in his mind. I was nervous as I thought we'd be looking for a Robert, and didn't want to go up to tons of people asking if they needed prayed and BTW is their name Robert... Funny thing, a woman (Chris) comes up and she seemed very touched by all of our children. (8 total) She commented about how beautiful they were and asked what we were doing there. The Dad told her that we were just at church praying and God told us to come to Rubio's and we asked if she needed prayer. She said YES she did. Chris told us that she had many many many health issues, from pathogens in her body, immune issues, intestinal problems, spinal problems, many issues. ( I missed alot of what was being said. I am sure the Lord did even greater things that what is written here! We prayed with her. Then the dad said " I don't know if this means anything to you, but when were were at the church we saw all of these things and we also heard the name Robert. Do you happen to have a Robert or Roberto close to you? She started crying. She told us that the man that had caused her many health issues and had done horrible things to her, abused her, caused her to become displaced from her home, and that had robbed her was named Robert. ( I think he stole her identity or something of that nature) She prays for his Salvation. She had such a sad story of all the pain in her past, her broken home and difficult childhood. ( I am sorry if I am forgetting huge details, I was chasing after the kids quite a bit and wrangling the ones that got to impatient to stand still. Between my kids and the other families kids we took turns praying and watching kids. )
It was funny because if I wasn't there I wouldn't have believed it. She then questioned my son to see if we were for real. She asked where were just came from. He told her the church, she asked him what we were doing, he told her paying. I think she thought we somehow listened in on a phone call or maybe found out about her from some where else. She wanted to be sure it was totally a GOD thing! IT WAS! Anyhoo, I was in SHOCK! I couldn't believe the Lord used my hubby and such little kids! We got to pray and minister to her for about an hour or so.

This was our first time doing this and we were so blessed. I was nervous about having to approach a bunch of people and God was merciful to have HER approach US! Also, I should note, it was the CHILDREN that drew her to us! If we didn't have those children with us it is doubtful that she would have approached us. It confirmed to me that Gods desire WAS for me to minister WITH my children and to incorporate them in ALL that I do! AMEN! You are all more than welcome to join us. It was AWESOME! God is so good. He still moves and gives gifts and wants to see lives restored and CHANGED. He desires to use each of us, from mama and papa down to nursing babe! AMEN! Alida
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Philippians 3:7-11 "That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead."
May all who come behind us find us faithful." Soli Deo Gloria (For the Glory of God alone)
Alida-Domestic Diva, Proud Homemaking Homeschooling Kingdom building Wife to Huatzin The Noble Knight, Mother to 6 y.o. twins Elijah the Great & Canaan the Magnificent, Virtuous Princess Anaiah Grace (3), Josiah My little man of Valor (1)

Another Heidi Baker Conference

Last weekend was really neat for us. We attended a conference to hear Mel Tari and Heidi Baker. It was very neat! If you don't know who Mel Tari is, then you are in for a treat if you listen to any of his sermons online or check out his site http://www.worldmissioninternational.com/
He has preached the gospel for over 40 years and is from Indonesia the worlds LARGEST Muslim country (did you now that? ) He has seen the dead raised, water turn to wine, walked on water and led a million to Christ. you can see him on youtube if you google him and read his book "like a mighty wind) Heidi baker is equally awesome. She has ministered to thousands of orphans in Mozambique, and has experienced many miracles such as healings and food being multiplied. I could go on and on about her ministry. http://www.irismin.org/ Anyhoo, love all things that include missions and caring for orphans so I was THRILLED to take a day off of schooling to bring the kids to this conference! It was AWESOME! I am now so convinced that my children can sit contently during church service. We were there form 12- almost 6:00 at night and my kids were great! It was so wonderful to be there to experience all that with my children. So many people came up to us and were so blessed by seeing the children there. They would all come by to comment on how precious they were, how wonderful and well behaved they were ( yes even I was surprise) many came to lay hands on my children as they all said they felt the Lord would use the children (my family greatly) It was wonderful because if the kids got a bit loud it was ok as folks were speaking in tongues and so joyful they hardly noticed a squirmy kid or two! We brought musical instruments and let the kids worship before the Lord as David did. It was wonderful to have so many come by and speak LIFE and blessings into our spirits.

An odd thing that happened was this. Many came with positive uplifting words of encouragement to us. One lady came up and was doting on Anaiah speaking about how cute she is. I asked her if she has children and she replied that she had one grown daughter and one granddaughter and that was all the grandchildren she'd ever have. My face must have given away a bit of sorrow for her she assured me that it was a good thing and that not everyone can handle more than one. She asked how she could pray for us and I replied that our biggest prayer is regarding the Lord leading us in adoption. She looked at me with huge eyes stopping to stare at each of my children as though they had 3 heads or something and asked WHY we'd want to do that, that it was too much work. She went on to further talk about it (not favorably) until i shared my heart.

I must also mention that this big church had flags of the nations all over the ceiling. An interesting thing is that when we walked in I didn't notice it until I looked up and had already parked my stroller but we just happen to be standing in front of.. you guessed it Haiti's flag, Ethiopia, India.. I searched frantically for Liberia's hoping it was a sign, sure enough I standing RIGHT by it! ALL the nations in front of me and I happen to be standing by the ones I am praying to adopt form.. Anyhow, I pointed this out to her. I said look at these flags, the nations Haiti, India, Ethiopia, and Liberia. I told her that I pray to be the mother of NATIONS, that I pray that we'd be able to adopt form EACH of those countries and not just one child either, but couple or a few, I told her I want to be FRUITFUL! I pray to be MULTIPLIED! My kids were all excited about it. She replied that is just to hard, too much! I told her But the Lord my God will provide the strength! I almost wanted to tell her that she the quote that "the bible says that children are blessings and that debt it a curse but in our culture we reject the blessings and apply for the curse. The world tells us that motherhood is unfulfilling and "too hard" that there are better ways to spend our time. that we can better minister for Jesus if we don't have to much baggage (children) but my children ARE my ministry! God doesn't CALL the equipped, He equips the CALLED! ;-)

She walked away huge eyed and puzzled. She was very sweet about it but I felt sorry for her. When I went home I brought back some great literature to give to her daughter but I didn't see her again. When she walked away I felt I had to SHAKE OFF that spirit of discouragement, that spirit of not valuing my children as the wonderful blessings, the gifts that they are! I opened my heart to the Lord to use me anyway He sees fit, and to stretch me until I look like Him. I asked him to take my will and my life and make it to look like his masterpiece. I was SO encouraged. Funny thing, Mel got up and preached about how important it is to be where God plants us, even if all we ever will be in this life is a homemaking mother, to do it unto the Lord with eternity in mind. Can i get an AMEN!
He spoke of Billy Grahams mama and how a mother and her children can change the WORLD! He spoke about the man who led Billy Graham to the Lord. he was just a lowly shoe shiner. He said that "even if Billy Graham is the ONLY person he ever led to the Lord, HE DID GOOD!!!" He spoke about how wonderful godly mothers are, then spoke about his own mother. I prayed yet again that the Lord would give me the children that people either can't keep or don't want. I have been praying for some time that he'd SPARE the lives of those that would abort there babies or throw them away and that somehow they'd find a way to our home! Then Heidi Baker got up and said something like "people don't kill your children, that she'd take unwanted children! How funny. Be blessed.

Psalm 127" Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. 5 Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.