Cleansing your HOUSE

 Look at this cuteness!!!!  So adorable.  If you ask Abigail how she feels about her new sibling- she says I LOVE HIM!  Music to my ears. 

 I love that my children have no problems welcoming in a new sibling.  We have walked this path so many times and sometimes we take it for granted, but our children all know that God has a plan for our family.  Sometimes it is hard, the wait isn't just hard for us, but for our kiddos.  The stories of why and how which we talk openly about are hard (of course age appropriately).  Each time is a new situation.  But our kiddos couldn't love Michael any more.....they snuggle with him, pick him up, play with him, sing to him, and they want to do it all, but a mommy and daddy have to be the main care givers too- after all he is my baby :). 

 Check out how he is sitting at our toddler table- oh man if you only knew how exciting this is!!!  I would like to point out that all of his skills have not been happening since he has been here- hello he has only been here a week today!  I am sooo excited because to be honest although K (his first healing mommy) told us a lot about him and gave us as many details as she could....we knew we would learn more about him as we saw him.  With the descriptions of him when he first came into care...yea....very very very different!  He is a new little man.  Michael has experienced healing in a wonderful home!  We are soo thankful!!! 

 As we get the privilege of knowing him more we see the new things he will be doing soon.  We will celebrate EVERYTHING!

So I wanted to post about this before we went to get our bundle of joy, but well some things happened and it didn't happen.  I wanted to do a post because I found it sooo helpful!!!!  It is from our church you can find out about our church here :)  This is a short snippet of notes from the sermon.  Make no mistake this is talking about your house, as well as your HOUSE- YOU.

Do you ever feel like you are sinking in your own skin or in your own home?  Feel like it is time to purge, but I am not just talking stored up junk physically- but spiritually!!!  Have you ever annointed your home?  Prayed over it, prayed over your family members, prayed over your job, prayed over your spouse, laid hands on each other, laid hands on your door frame, asking God to heal, bless, and purge all that is unclean?  Well.....if you haven't or you may think this sounds crazy...but I can promise you God wants to claim all you have and own for HIM!

Ask anyone who has gone through the spiritual battleground of adoption.  They can tell you that satan tries to attack all you have- including you, your health, your stuff.  Not just adoption!  Anytime we start saying yes to the Holy Spirit and no to the ways of the world we are confronted by the enemy.  This should be our reply!  Not just this- this is an outline of something, but really deeply crying out to God begging HIM to have control over us, our home, our stuff, and our entire lives!!

This weekend Pastor Greg is preaching on “How to Cleanse a Leprous House.” Part of his message gives several questions to ask yourself in order to identify your areas of need. Then he gives practical steps to take to clean the house - your life.

How to cleanse a leprous house

1. Purge:  personal/practical principles - Cleaning (soul cleaning)

    a. Have you compromised anywhere in your choice of friends or activities? (Ephesians 5:11; 1 Cor. 5:9)

    b. Do you maintain obedience to parents? (Romans 1:28-32; Proverbs 23:14)

    c. Do you participate in any lying, dishonesty or untruthfulness? (Col 3:9)

    d. Do you exercise or participate in impure joking or speech? (Eph.  4:31; Psalm 19:14)

    e. Do you sample or practice any known disobedience? (1 John 1:9)

    f. Have you given astrology or occult practices any place at all? (Acts 19:18-19)

    g. What about the pornographic or obscene? (Exodus 20:3)

2. Praise/Pray/Perform: as priests and priestesses- (Romans 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:9)

    a. In the bedrooms recite the blessings of restful sleep (Psalm 3:5, 4:8)

    b. In the bathroom declare the promises of health (Exodus 15:26)

    c. In the kitchen express the promises of provision and strength (Exodus 23:25)

    d. In the living room declare the decision to follow the Lord in unity and mutual submission (Joshua 24:15; Eph. 5:21-6:4)

    e. In the entry hall stand and pray the blessings of coming in and going out before the Lord (Deut. 28:6)

3. Covering: Come under God's Covering (1 Cor. 5:7-8)

AMEN!!!!  I think if everyone said I want- really want to grow closer to God.  I feel so far away.  This is a GREAT PLACE TO START!  HE WILL NEVER DISAPPOINT!

 Ok a few random pics.....this is a package we got in the mail today.  Why is it next to the Tampa phone book you ask?

 Yeah, because it is thicker than the phone book!  What is it???  Ummmm......well if you are a facebook friend you know......there was over 400 pages of fun time reading on our newest babe!  Some good reading in there......oye!  It saddened my heart to hear about his past before he came to K's family.  I knew about it....K told me about it.....and yet reading it.....made it real.  And I know that what grieves our hearts - must grieve God's heart even more!  So I am depending on God for strength to continue the healing process for Michael.   

Oh, and another random pic.....he he he....this is me cutting up some paper towel rolls for baby wipes :).  Yep, going through more now with 2 bums to clean up.  And it is pretty simple.  You cut a roll of paper towel in half- I use an electric knife, but you can use whatever works for you.  Oh and the paper towel has to be a good kind like bounty or Brawny- if you coupon you can find good deals!  Put it in a container with slits on the top- I just bought a cheap one - used duct tape so the edges weren't sharp, and voila!

You add- 2 cups of water, 1 tablespoon of rubbing alcohol, 2 tablespoons of baby oil, and a squirt of baby soap if you want.  That's it!  It is cheap and works really easily.  We use this for home only, and carry store bought wipes when we go out or travel.  :)

Pray that you will take time today to really study the scriptures above and think about purging your heart, your home, and your activities.  It is time to start taking back our homes for GOD!  :)