Can You Imagine?

            CAN YOU IMAGINE?

I attended my first Beth More bible study this past week.  It was nice to meet all the ladies and share our hearts with one another.  I was touched by many of the things that the ladies shared as we dug our heels in and began to take a look at the life of Esther. 

We were moving right along when suddenly and profoundly the words of Beth Moore, as she spoke on her video, pierced my heart.  Esther was an orphan.  I knew that but I never really focused on that part of the story as I was so enamored by her life once she had been taken from her cousin Mordecai and dropped in the palace of the king. 

Beth began sharing a story of her family members, a young man and woman with two small girls, who were taken suddenly in a car accident.  The two small girls, also in the car, survived.  She began to expound on the fact that without notice, without warning these two girls lives were changed forever.  The following morning mommy would not be coming in the room to wake her girls with a kiss, coach them to the kitchen where she had made breakfast for them.  No longer would she be packing their lunches for school with precious little notes in it saying I love you or you are special.  They would not be sitting with an adorning mother brushing their hair discussing everything that was important to them.  They would miss the big strong hugs from dad as he arrived home from work, bedtime stories from the deep calming voice that made them feel safe every night as he tucked them in bed.  Things would never be the same for these two girls or any child who has ever lost a mother or father.  Can you imagine losing both?

I have said so many times that nothing could be worse than losing a child, nothing.  This made me think, and Beth pointed it out in the video, that yes, something could be.  If we are old enough to have a child we at least can process death, we still have the stabling factors present in our lives and know how to take care of ourselves.  I am positive the heartache on either end is devastating but a small child finding themselves alone, without the two people in your lives that are supposed to be there for you and love you like no one else can... well, I don’t think any of us can imagine unless we've been there.

I left there feeling more responsible, feeling more compassion and more drive to work with orphans than before even before.  I could not imagine that the words I would hear after I entered the bible study

would cause my heart, which is already broken for orphans, to be broken more.

 Listen! The orphaned children in this world, here at home and in other countries, are our responsibility.  Whether like me you go and minister or  you sponsor a child through an organization like Feeding the Orphans, it is our responsibility.  Just try, and I mean really try, to put yourself in a child’s place who has lost everything. They are not old enough, educated enough, wise enough or anything else enough to care for themselves. Everything that happens to them is at the mercy of others. Try to imagine your little ones or your grandchildren being faced with the kind of tragedy shared above.  We all need to join hands and take care of the kids that are suffering in this world!  What can you do?

Hot Lunch Program for Orphans

Philippians 2:4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interest but for the interest of others.

It is such a privilege when we have an opportunity to  honor God in our giving.  So many of you have been so faithful to do just that and it has been such an encouragement to so many. Feeding The Orphans has reached out again and we need your help.

 

FAITH ROOTS INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY
Faith Roots International Academy currently has 185 students in City of Refuge. For those of you who are not familiar with City of Refuge, it is a safe haven for rescued slave children. 18 children will reside in a house with a mother and father (house parents) and receive three square meals a day. There are two completed functioning homes right now with more in the works. Currently about 36 children reside at City of Refuge and attend the school. The remaining students are from the neighboring villages. 

 DADDY JOE AND MOMMY TERESA

City of Refuge’s first house parents.     

 

If three churches would partner with us we could provide lunches for all 135 children for a donation of $266.00 per month by each church.  This will ensure that these kids will receive a healthy hot meal and for some of these children it will be the only meal they receive that day.  Will you help us feed these children.  If you think your church would be willing to help us please speak with them and be an advocate for these kids. 

LUNCH TIME

 

Written in ink on our hearts...

2 Corinthians 3

Christ’s Epistle

3 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you? ² You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; ³ clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.

The Spirit, Not the Letter

⁴ And we have such trust through Christ toward God. ⁵ Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, ⁶ who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit;^[a] for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Glory of the New Covenant

⁷ But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, ⁸ how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? ⁹ For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. ¹⁰ For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. ¹¹ For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious.
¹² Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech— ¹³ unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. ¹⁴ But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. ¹⁵ But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. ¹⁶ Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. ¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. ¹⁸ But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

I ask God to help me as I read His beautiful Word to understand the depth of it, for it to give life  to my spirit so that I  live for Him.  As I read scripture I feel such a weight lift off my shoulders.  To know that I am guided by the Spirit of God and that He wrote the most beuatiful love story ever, Jesus crucified for me, giving life to me. I am so thankful for His love and that He does not dispise my weakness.  It is only through Him that I have or do anything that is worthwhile.  I can do nothing on my own, apart from Him, nothing. But I can do anything that He calls me to do through Christ Jesus that lives in me. Sit and meditate on just that... Christ Jesus lives in me! It is so hard sometimes to just be still, but when I am He is able to work in me and to show me how He works out those things that I can not and do not have control over. While sitting still many times means just being quiet before him and meditating on His word, sometimes it has meant walking away from something that I want very much to deal with and do what He puts on my heart to do instead, be busy about my Father's business. When I put my trust and my hope in Him there is liberty, freedom from the weights of this life that can seem unbearable at times and He works all things out for good to us who love Him. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord...   I pray that in every circumstance for myself and for my family and friends we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us and to comfort us in those times and as He does we spend our lives, considering each moment as valuable to the Lord, living sacrifices to the Most High God.  There is so much to do.

HALELUJAH

 

Today marks one year ago that I stepped off that plane into Ghana, an experience that has forever changed my life.  During my nine months God revealed to me what it is that I really want from this life.  God opens doors and He has opened the door to full time ministry, something I cherish. I have thought that I need a part time job to be able to meet basic needs and continue to serve.  I have been running on empty for two months.  I have been down to .52 in my bank account.  It is not easy for my flesh to be comfortable with how I am living.  But, and I mean but, God has stepped in and miraculously provided for me every step of the way.  What I know right now is that my God owns the universe and everything in it.  He can speak what I need and it is mine.  Sometimes I remind myself of the children of Israel, complaining and forgetting to look and remember what God had done for me.   As I look back  have shouts of hallelujah during my prayer time, driving in my car and just different times as the reality of what He has and is doing settles in. These are just some of the reasons for my shout: 

I was let go from a job in the middle of a sell out and given the money I needed in the form of severance to pay off every debt and purchase airline tickets to go to Ghana.

I saw children delivered from scabies.  I could not get the people at the home to understand that it was necessary for us to wash everything and treat the home.  They refused.  I asked for prayer and cried out to my God that I could not stand the itching anymore and needed Him to do a miracle.  By the end of the week the runners on my arms caused by the crawling bugs were gone and so was the scabies without treatment.

 

I saw children healed of ring worm, fungus, and other horrible skin conditions (especially on their feet caused by red ant bites that had become infected).

            I was afflicted with ring worm, fungus, infected fungus and malaria at the same time.  I cried out in anger to God not understanding why.  He spoke to my heart that I had asked for compassion for these children and now I fully understood how they were feeling.  It was a moment of falling on my face, asking for forgiveness and then getting busy making sure they were treated aggressively to see an end to these attacks on their little bodies.

I saw children who were thin, had extended bellies and looked through emptied eyes begin to gain weight, begin to  laugh,  to share and shine.

I prayed for one boy to get an education sponsor and the very next day… he had a sponsor.

I prayed for God to provide a little boy with surgery for his eyes.  God made the provision.  Unfortunately the family that controls this little boy’s future would not cooperate fully so that this could be accomplished.  I am still praying that God will make a way.

 

I saw a little boy rescued from slavery.  Thin, sunken face, huge questioning eyes not understanding what was happening to him and speaking a language that no one understood he was taken from his master and ended up at his new home.  Once there, he saw another little boy from his village.  He ran and fell into his arms wrapping his arms around this little boy.  As they began to talk a smile emerged that was so touching.  Tears began to fall as you knew this little boy was being told about how wonderful his life was going to be.  He would have a mom and dad, a home, 3 meals a day and school and most of all he would be shown what the love of God is all about. 14 more were brought home shortly after I left Ghana.

I was able to share Jesus with a man who was drunk and following us.  He would not leave so I told him I knew he was drunk and that he could only follow us if he would stop his behavior.  He first denied he was drunk and as I told him that I knew he was drunk and was drinking everyday of his life he began to cry, he opened up and began to confess the truth about his life.  He had a wife and 3 little girls who were suffering because of his drinking. We prayed and he invited me to his home to meet his family.  They were precious and I talked with his wife and then we all prayed. 

In the middle of the night feeling so alone and lonely, totally miserable I in a whisper said God I need you.  Do you hear me, I need you so bad.  For the next several minutes (I don’t really know how long) Jesus sat next to me on my bed and we talked.  It wish I had the words to describe what it was like.  All I know is that I felt peace and all of my suffering subsided.  I was refreshed and looked at things in a different light the next morning.

I became friends with about 40 or 50 little children in the village of Chorkor that would follow me as soon as I arrived and walk with me the entire way to the house we were delivering food.  I would tell them about Jesus and give them candy and only wish I had more food so that they could all eat.  I know some people get frustrated at how rude they can seem grabbing things from your hand and sometimes even taking a portion that was meant for another child and because they crammed it into their mouth that child went without but it just speaks to how hungry they are. 

 I  had a small girl write notes to God about how much she wanted a mom and dad.  God told me that she would have a mom and dad before I left.  I spoke this to her and from that day she wrote letters to God and to her new mom and dad.  One week before I left the orphanage the family that was adopting her allowed the privilege of telling her.  I wasn’t able to tell her best friend that she was also being adopted but they found out soon after.  Answered prayer.

I could go on and on and on but the point is I want to remember, we all need to remember what God has done for us.  We need to remember the goodness of our Lord and Savior.  Remember! No matter how different we all have God Moments that are worthy of remembering.

 I am so excited about returning to Ghana under the umbrella of the most High God.  I am excited to have opportunities to share the gospel with believers and experience God’s grace and anointing on our time together, changing us, making us more like Him.  I am excited to hug some beautiful little children, pray over them, speak life into their lives and just be there for them.  I am excited to see friends left behind and hear about the amazing things God has been doing through them.

We say , “All I need is You Lord”. We proclaim Him to be so many things in our life but nothing causes our words to stand like being in the middle of something terrible. Someone asked me if I would be willing to lay my life down in a certain situation. I quickly responded yes because no would have meant that the task before me wasn’t worthy of that. The truth is that it is not my life to lay down, it is not my choice to make, it is His. He is the maker of Heaven and Earth. the giver of life and the one who decides the appointed time.

Only He can satisfy. It is imperative that I crucify my flesh every single day and seek Him. I need to be living this life from my spirit which bears witness with His spirit and gives me the right to cry out Abba in the midst of the storm (Romans 8) and to rest in His loving arms when He is leading me beside still waters. He knows what I need and when I need it better than I do.

 Since I have been home God has met my needs faithfully.  I have tried to get a job but it just hasn’t happened yet.  But what has happened is God has used you to meet my needs.  I want everyone to know that I am sold out to Jesus.  I am happy to live from God moment to God moment.  All I need to do is worship my God by living each day for Him.  I need your support and I promise you that I will continue to live each day walking in obedience to what He calls me to do.  It is very humbling to have people pour into your life the way  you have poured into mine the past year.  I promise you I will pour back out in the ways that I am able as God leads.

HE IS SUFFICIENT

In the past week I have been so grateful at the way God has graciously confirmed the things He is doing in my life. He doesn't owe me anything and yet in spite of my weakness He puts up with me and proves Himself over and over.



I shared how a very generous donor provided my plane ticket to Ghana for my upcoming trip. When I got the call all I could do was sit and cry. It is hard to explain the emotions that I felt. Tears of joy flowed uncontrollably as I thought to myself, God you did it again! Again! After posting in Face Book about the 1200 dollars I would need to raise, I got a response from a good friend with a precious heart. She told me to check the mail, she was sending something. I assumed she would give a little something but I never dreamed it would be for the full amount needed for my trip in January. I just don't have words. All I know is that God is confirming every step of the way that this is Him. He is calling and He is providing.



From my devotional:

That same Christ, with all His attributes and mighty power, belongs to us. We are members of His body, His flesh, and His bones, and if we will only believe this and receive it, we may actually draw our life from the very life of the Son of God. I Cor. 6:13 "The body is... for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body"

This is crucifying the flesh and walking in the spirit. This is allowing Jesus in us to operate fully and have complete control. I want to be yielded to THE POWER SOURCE. Everything is from Him and through Him and by Him. It is so exhilarating to think that we can have this type of access to Jesus. I want to walk in the fullness of my Lord and Savior and I am determined to do so.

Some days I start to loose focus and look at my circumstances: my finances, my vehicle in much need of repairs, etc. and I start to feel desperate. Then I think, why am I worrying? It is only the Creator of heaven and earth, my Creator who has my back! I recently read 2 Cor. 10:5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. When negative thoughts that are contrary to what God has told me come, I quote this scripture. God has a plan for my life and He has confirmed it over and over. He has told me to trust Him and to walk in obedience by faith to do the things He has put on my heart to do.

                                                         From my devotional:

There is a vast difference between pleasure and blessedness. Paul experienced imprisonment, pain, sacrifice, and suffering to their very limits, yet through it all he was blessed. All the beatitudes became real in his heart and life, in the midst of difficult circumstances.

I use to think that everything should be a bed of roses for anyone who is walking the walk for God. As I grow in Him I understand that the difficult things are the things that cause me to grow in Him. I appreciate the rest He gives but I know if I want to continue to grow in Him it is only temporary.

Everything we do here should be about Him. It should be about seeking the prize that He has set before us. If the things we are seeking are the rewards we can obtain here we are cheating ourselves out of the biggest reward of them all. Standing before Him and hearing Him say... well done.

Please pray for me that I will raise my standards daily to His standards and that I will walk in love and patience for everyone that I meet. Pray that I will be dedicated to the things that He has called me to do and not be tossed to and fro but stand firmly planted in His truth. Pray that I will accomplish everything that He has for me to do here and in Africa when i go in January. Thank you for your prayers. They are truly coveted.

This Is Why

Why I do what I do.

 

PSALM 68: 4-6

Sing to God, sing in praise of his name,
extol him who rides on the clouds;
rejoice before him—his name is the Lord.
⁵ A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
is God in his holy dwelling.
⁶ God sets the lonely in families,

I have been home nearly 3 months and after being separated from family and friends for so long, I really appreciate the time I have with everyone.  After getting settled into my new home that God provided through a very giving family, I spent some time catching up with my grandchildren.  It was wonderful being able to share with them about my experiences and about the children in Ghana.  I started my new position with Feeding The Orphans doing books.  It didn’t take long to see all of the ways that I would be able to assist in the work that they are doing for the Kingdom.  It is very satisfying, after being in Ghana for 9 months, to be involved in the day to day ministry and to see all the ways that God is providing for His children. 

Something that I am very thankful for are the new friends that God has brought into my life through this experience.  I met so many people in Ghana that I keep in touch with via Face Book and I love hearing from them.  I have made new friends right here at home.  It is beautiful how God brings people together through ministry.  There is a bond you feel with people who are like minded and have hearts for the same things that you do. I have found that people who love God and want to obey His Word by taking care of widows and orphans are some of the most loving people I have ever been around.  They love deep.

I have been looking for a part time job so that I can be available to assist  Feeding The Orphans.  There are many tasks that need to be done on a weekly or monthly basis and new ones that pop up from day-to-day.  There are also events that take place such as the teen rally in Kingston, the Ghana Re-union, the Adoption Convention in Atlanta and this week the debut of the adoption video that the O’leary family took part in.  Working to complete tasks and events, to see that they are successful, can be very time consuming but always …always, very rewarding.    To know that what you have worked hard for will change the life of a child is precious.  To see the many ways that God is using people, their finances, their abilities and talents to fulfill His plans is amazing.

My personal testimony is something that just overwhelms me about the goodness of God when I stop and think about it.  Since coming home I used the funds that I have saved to get settled in and take care of loose ends.  I began looking for a part time job realizing that when I tell employers that I will be traveling to Ghana a couple times a year and be gone anywhere from 2  to 12 weeks, a job will not be so easy to secure.  I have prayed about this a lot.  I want  more than anything to obey the will of God for my life.  I have prayed numerous times nearing the point of being penniless and asked God to help me to know what to do, besides trusting Him.  I am fully aware that faith without works is dead and that I need to be pro-active about my financial situation.  I have sent out letters asking for support and to date have nothing to report.  Sounds bad huh?  Not at all.  God has over and over  again used someone with a very generous heart to provide at just the right time and in answer to my prayers. 

This past weekend while I was in Atlanta working the conference I was reminding God that my fuel tank (bank account) was just about on E again.  The family that we stayed with, who were absolutely wonderful, asked if we would spend another night and attend church with them.  Ready to go home, but also wanting to spend more time with them we agreed.  During Sunday School their class prayed for myself and another volunteer who is leaving in October.  After prayer some people asked questions about Ghana and what we are doing now.  After sharing with them a very generous couple sponsored the volunteer for a portion of her trip and blessed me with a gift of $500.00.  When I opened the check all I could do was cry at the goodness of My Father and the generosity of my brothers and sisters. As if that wasn’t enough, another very generous couple blessed me with a ticket, fully paid for and booked.  I will be leaving January 25^th for Ghana and Togo .  You just cannot do justice to the works of a loving God with words.

What I have seen since I have been home is that the promises of God are truly yeah and amen! Living from God thing to God thing is building my faith.  I know that I need to stop worrying about how I am going to walk this call He has placed on my life and walk in obedience no matter what my circumstances look like.  He has it all under control and I just need to be busy doing the things I know to do and trusting Him to do the rest.  I cannot say thank you enough to those of you who have partnered with me whether it is providing a home, monthly financial support, one time gifts, prayers, phone calls, an enjoyable lunch, etc. 

I need to raise $1,200.00 for this trip to Ghana in January.  I am asking you to consider  partnering with me for this trip and I am also seeking  monthly financial support so that I can continue to minister  with and through Feeding The Orphans. 

 

THEY NEED US

I am writing to thank everyone who prayed and who sent financial support while I was in Ghana and to share what God is doing in my life right now.  While I was in Ghana God taught me so much and before I left to come back to the States, I knew He had  birthed a desire in my heart to be involved in missions full-time.  He used the challenges I faced to break my heart for the children of Africa.  At the end of my nine months I knew that I wanted to pursue the call He has placed on my life to minister to the people of Ghana and Togo West Africa.

 

Since I have been home, I have been blessed to be part of what God is doing right here in America.  I know that most people think giving to a missionary means giving to someone who will be traveling to a foreign land to minister.  I will admit that is exactly what I thought I would be doing, but since I have been home God has shown me a great need that directly impacts the orphans and single mothers that Feeding the Orphans touches.  Without people who are willing to do the behind the scenes work (advocate for children right here) many of the needs that are being met would not be.  I have seen the hustle and bustle that goes on in the day to day life of a family that has and is giving their all to His call.  There are e-mails, phone calls, running to the post office, bookwork, seminars, conventions to sell products that give single mothers the ability to care for their children, picking up products, meeting people to sell products, meeting people to pick up donations, delivering donations, writing thank you letters, meetings for special projects and fund raisers, overseeing schedules for volunteers, overseeing schedules for mission teams, international phone calls and emails, listening to the hearts of people who are oversees and homesick, giving advice, running out at all hours of the day and night to send money for medical needs for orphans and volunteers and so much more. Because Feeding the Orphans has grown so fast God has called me to step in and help them with all the daily duties that are required to run this organization so they can continue to meet the need of those they are caring for.  I will also travel to Ghana and Togo and minister there at different times throughout the year as needs and projects arise.

The beauty of this organization is that it was started in the heart of an 10 year old and has grown into an entire family and hundreds of people who are following and giving as God directs.  It is beautiful the way it is changing the lives of hundreds of orphans and single mothers and is continuing to grow as God reveals the work He has for all of us to do.  Feeding the Orphans is now serving orphanages in the villages of Teshie, Bolga, and Central Region in the country of Ghana, the country of Togo and their latest partnership in India.  They also partner with City of Refuge in the village of Doryumu, Ghana which rescues children from slavery and provides them with a home, food and education.  Feeding the Orphans has built one of the two homes that are now completed and beaming with lives full of hope.  They are committed to the single mothers who have been trained to make jewelry, handbags and quilts and spend many hours advertising and attending conventions so that they can sell their products.

FTO is a non-profit organization that gives 100% of donations to their designated projects.  It is FTO’s heart that if money is designated to children, then all of that money needs to go to the children.  Therefore, I will need to raise my own support.  I have been so humbled at the way you have given your support in the past whether financial, phone calls, prayers, etc.  You are a very important part of what God is doing and I want to thank you in advance for enabling me to obey His call.  I will post on my blog so that you see where I am in the fundraising process and be encouraged as we all work together to see the work of the Kingdom of God get done.

I feel very blessed to be called by God to help meet the needs of this organization so we can continue to care for God’s children.  To become a monthly partner in my calling, you can mail a tax deductible check to:

Feeding the Orphans

505 Cave Creek Road
Loudon, TN 37774

Or alternatively you can donate securely online at www.feedingtheorphans.org

Please Designate Lola Crain Support in the notes section.

 

 

SAFE VIDEO

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

A Full Heart

My heart is so full right now.  I have been thinking about children. Children here, Africa, all over the world really.  My heart is full as I think about them and how much God loves them.  I am enjoying every minute of my time with my grandchildren and they are so precious to me.  The children at the orphanage I lived at are also very precious to me.  And as much as I love them He loves them more. 

As I read God's Word this passage took on new meaning:
Romans 8:15-17 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,  and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

I can't physically see God but I know that He is there.  I know that He cares for me and He will meet my needs. I don't have to fear,  I only have to trust Him.  He is faithful.  His word says I can cry out Abba, Father... Daddy.  That I am His child and not only that but He has made me a joint heir with Jesus Christ!  ARE YOU GETTING THAT?  A joint heir with Jesus Christ! 

James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.






As children of God, who have been grafted into
His family by the spirit of adoption we must see the
heart of God.  Pure and undefiled religion is meeting
the needs of orphans and widows.  That means it is
our responsibility to take care of them.  He has done for
 us what He wants us to do for them. 





My heart is crying out that as children of the Most High God we will understand His heart, touch His heart and see His Kingdom touch earth through our obedience and willingness.  I don't want to do something out of a feeling of responsiblity.  I want to understand how awesome it is to know that someone loves me like that and to love others like that.  I want to walk in the shadow of the Almighty God and do what He has commanded me to do, LOVE.


Jesus, help us to feel what you feel when you see a child covered in dust, wearing clothing that is tattered and torn, who is hungry and thirsty.  Give us eyes to see and heart to feel what you see and feel.  Forgive us if we are apathetic and are more concerned with other things.  Turn our hearts to you and to these children and help us Lord to be faithful in the things of God and not the things of this world.  The enemy has set snares for us and is using them to keep us from being used by you.  God set your word a blaze in our hearts!  Help us to long for you more than anything else, to desire to please you more than anything else.   Lord give us a higher standard of living than the worlds standard.  Let us see our value when we are yeilded to you and nothing else.  Help us to be generous with our money, with our time, with our love.







If you are not stirred for the things of God it is not His fault.  It is because you are not making a choice to pursue Him.  There is no other reason. I use to tell myself I just don't like to read. That was an excuse to make myself feel better.  I don't like to eat off of dirty plates so I wash the dishes which I don't like to do either.  I can give you a million examples like that, the point is, IT IS A CHOICE.  I just read something that struck a nerve in me.  A local doctor wrote in his book, if you only hear the spoken word of God from preachers and others you are getting leftovers and they are dining at His table.   ARE YOU GETTING THAT?  You can hear from God directly, you can pursue Him and He will be availble to you and He will use you because you are valuable to Him.

I Timothy 6:11  But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 

What are the things that are consuming your time, your mind, your money, etc.  When I think about that I feel such pain in my heart because I have wasted so much time, money and thought on things that are now nothing to me.  He will never be nothing so investing in Him will always mean something. 

Called

One of the most touching experiences I had in Ghana was in a remote village where the children had never seen a white person (Obruni). To watch their little hands tremble as they mustered up the courage to come closer is something I will never forget.  I knew that day, looking at the affects of poverty on these children,

I could never say no to Gods call. I watched with  tears as this little girl kept her distance. I wanted so badly to pick her up, to bandage her bleeding knee and tell her that Jesus loves her.  She would not allow it that day but as I shared with Righ and Kristie O’leary the burden God placed on my heart for these kids they immediately responded that we would provide sponsors for food and water for these children.

God planted a seed in my heart and birthed a desire to continue mission work while I was in Ghana.  I have been praying since I left there for Him to show me what I would be doing.  He has placed an opportunity for me to continue my mission work in Ghana.  Feeding the Orphans desperately needs our help. This family has given more and more of their time to running FTO as God has placed more orphans in their care.  They are also providing jobs for single mothers ensuring that they will be able to keep and care for their children. They are determined to give 100% of donations to feeding children and providing income for single mothers. In order to do this the O’Leary family is raising the funds to support their family here in the U.S. They are the backbone of Feeding the Orphans and without FTO hundreds of children and many single  mothers would not have food, water and education. The stats are staggering of how God is blessing through this family.

Matthew 9:37  Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.

I know that God is calling me to full time work with FTO and that in order for this ministry to continue to function with 100% of donations going to the kids, I will be raising support for myself.  I will travel to Ghana to oversee operations, work here and there training and scheduling volunteers and mission teams and assist in the daily tasks associated with running an international orphan care ministry.  I am asking you to come along side me and financially enable me to do the work that God has called me to do.

We all are called to be workers. For some of us that means supporting with our finances and for others it means going. I am willing to answer the call God has placed in my heart. I am only ½ of the solution.  Please consider being the other half. 

To begin partnering with me in this mission:

1.       Make your pledge payable to Feeding the Orphans with Lola Crain on the memo line

2.      Mail your donations to Feeding the Orphans, 505 Cave Creek Rd., Loudon, TN 37774 or, you can pay electronically on their website: www.feedingtheorphans.com (All donations are tax deductable).

In Christ,

Lola Crain

He is faithful

My beautiful momma.

I have experienced the faithfulness of God so much and just want to always share His goodness. My mother is an alsheimer victom and it is such a cruel disease.  While I was in Africa I prayed over and over that God would restore her mind and that she would use her final days as an intercessor.  My mom loves God and I know that she would be happy interceding for others.  When I talked to my sister yesterday she told me the doctors findings.  His report is that she is not progressing as quickly into the next stages as a normal alsheimer patient would, rather she has not gotten worse at all.  I am believing and thanking my God that he is sustaining and healing her mind. 

God is so good to all of us if we will just ask Him believing.  He is a powerful God who is a restorer, refresher, reviver, and loves to give good gifts to His children.  All He wants is for us to love Him more than anything else and how easy is that.  To love a God who loves you first, who created you in His image and is calling you to walk hand in hand with him loving others as He loves you.  Walk in the fullness of being a child of the most High God.  Believe Him! Don't just believe in Him.  He is able to do far more than you can even think to ask and if you will think about your life and the things He has done you will testify to the truthfullness of that.  Oh how wonderful it is to know Him.

HOME

I have been home for exactly two weeks.  It is almost overwhelming to try and  process everything right now.  My heart is in two places now and they are so opposite of each other in many ways.  The abundance of water here is such a blessing to me now after have two buckets of water for bathing (outside under the trees), brushing teeth, etc. and now, just turning on the tap anytime I want.  Restaraunts galore, air conditioned grocery stores with nice little buggies (everything is carried on your head in a huge metal bowl in Africa) and vehicles to jump in anytime you want to go somewhere (VERY FEW people have cars in Ghana)  are something I just don't take for granted anymore.  I went without television for the past nine months and honestly when I turn it on now I don't like it at all!  When I think about sitting in front of a box and watching other people (literally with "reality" tv) I feel like it is such a waste of time. After living with a people who have nothing watching people who are flaunting the fact that they have an abundace of money being rude, crude and totally unapreciative of what they have is just not how I want to spend my time. I don't have a tv and sometimes I wish I could just sit down and watch a good movie once but there is always my pc which was my television in Ghana. I like to watch people, always have.  I have really noticed that  color is missing in our wardrobes.  In Ghana when everyone wears their traditional African outfits they are arrayed in color and the styles are out of this world awesome. African's love color and so do I after being around it.  Their fabrics are so different than anything you can find here.  I don't know why we are so reserved when it comes to color, and I still am, but it just makes you feel good looking at all of it on the streets on Sundays.  They still get so decked out to go to church and consider anything less not acceptable for God's house. I like it that they consider going to meet with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is reason for putting on your best. I know it is cool and hip to go to church in anything you want and we don't want anyone to feel bad about whey they wear but I still think it is nice to make effort when going before Him, He is worth it.  MUSIC, SINGING and DANCING, oh my! Everywhere you go in Ghana, the market place, the streets, someones home there is music.  It is loud, the kind of loud where we would call the police and complain.  There is no complaining in Ghana and many nights I went to sleep hearing the neighbors music playing. As you walk the music and the voices change but everone is singing, uninhibitedly!  It is so refresing.  I would dance with them and sing and we would all laugh and smile and it was so nice to just be free with what I was feeling.  I pray that the families who have brought Ghanaian children home will make an effort to just be goofballs and dance and sing with their children.  It is a huge part of their heritage and I just want to say a beautiful part of their heritage.

Being torn is tough but I would not give up this experience for anything.  I am blessed to know the people of Ghana and my heart is with 36 orphans that call me Grandma and who I love with all my heart.  I also would never give up the privledge and honor of loving and raising my three girls and having their children be such a huge part of my life or the wonderful friends that I have here in America.

GOD BLESS AMERICA! GOD BLESS GHANA! GOD BLESS TOGO! GOD BLESS US ALL!

Raging Rivers

I was just thinking about the storms of life this morning.  How the raging river is so hard to cross but on the waters edge there is green grass and because of the water there is life making the trees and flowers and everything near it healthy and beautiful. Much like the trials of life, hard to go through but on the otherside is the refreshing of Him who gives the trials.  He makes all things beautiful. He carries us when we are weak and when we are on the waters edge we need not forget, like the roots of the living things on the waters edge strive for the water, so we should strive to be closer to Him.

His Call

One of the most touching experiences I had in Ghana was in a remote village where the children had never seen a white person (Obruni). To watch their little hands tremble as they mustered up the courage to come closer is something I will never forget.  I knew that day, looking at the affects of poverty on these children, I could never say no to Gods call. I watched with  tears as this little girl kept her distance. I wanted so badly to pick her up, to bandage her bleeding knee and tell her that Jesus loves her.  She would not allow it that day but as I shared with Righ and Kristie O’leary the burden God placed on my heart for these kids they immediately responded that we would provide sponsors for food and water for these children.

God planted a seed in my heart and birthed a desire to continue mission work while I was in Ghana.  I have been praying since I left there for Him to show me what I would be doing.  He has placed an opportunity for me to continue my mission work in Ghana.  Feeding the Orphans desperately needs our help. This family has given more and more of their time to running FTO as God has placed more orphans in their care.  They are also providing jobs for single mothers ensuring that they will be able to keep and care for their children. They are determined to give 100% of donations to FTO and providing income for single mothers. In order to do this the O’Leary family is raising the funds to support their family here in the U.S. They are the backbone of Feeding the Orphans and without FTO hundreds of children and many single  mothers would not have food, water and education. The stats are staggering of how God is blessing through this family.

 

Matthew 9:37  Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.

I know that God is calling me to full time work with FTO and that in order for this ministry to continue to function with 100% of donations going to the kids, I will be raising support for myself.  I will travel to Ghana to oversee operations, work here and there training and scheduling volunteers and mission teams and assist in the daily tasks associated with running an international orphan care ministry.  I am asking you to come along side me and financially enable me to do the work that God has called me to do.

We all are called to be workers. For some of us that means supporting with our finances and for others it means going. I am willing to answer the call God has placed in my heart. I am only ½ of the solution.  Please consider being the other half. 

To begin partnering with me in this mission:

1.       Make your pledge payable to Feeding the Orphans with Lola Crain on the memo line
2.      Mail your donations to Feeding the Orphans, 505 Cave Creek Rd., Loudon, TN 37774 or, you can pay electronically on their website: www.feedingtheorphans.com (All donations are tax deductable).

 

 In Christ,

Lola Crain