Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
The Christmas Stroll
Every year since it's inception, my little business, Wild Prairie Farms, has participated in the Whitehall Christmas Stroll. And every year I average about the same amount in sales. Last year with the economy so poor, it was the worst ever.
Well this year, it took me about 3 solid weeks to get ready, with the last week being 8-10 hour days in the kitchen .... Yikes.
For the past 2 years, sales from our website www.wildprairiefarms.net and Farmer's Markets have gone directly to our Adoption Fundraisers. So this year, I made an extravagent prayer request and asked the Lord for $1000 in sales ... WELL over my usual.
By noon I had made a whopping $120, by 3:00 $379. But by 6:00, closing time, with sales and donations, the Lord gave us $1039. Thank you Jesus!
I tell you this, only to say that the Lord is able to do more than we can imagine or think. He cares for the orphan ... What are you believing Him to do for you and your family today? Ask Him ... He is able!
Well this year, it took me about 3 solid weeks to get ready, with the last week being 8-10 hour days in the kitchen .... Yikes.
For the past 2 years, sales from our website www.wildprairiefarms.net and Farmer's Markets have gone directly to our Adoption Fundraisers. So this year, I made an extravagent prayer request and asked the Lord for $1000 in sales ... WELL over my usual.
By noon I had made a whopping $120, by 3:00 $379. But by 6:00, closing time, with sales and donations, the Lord gave us $1039. Thank you Jesus!
I tell you this, only to say that the Lord is able to do more than we can imagine or think. He cares for the orphan ... What are you believing Him to do for you and your family today? Ask Him ... He is able!
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Pleading the Cause of the Orphan
How many people know that November is Adoption Awareness Month?
How many people know that last Sunday was Orphan Sunday?
Last Saturday we did our Both Hands Project ~
One Hand for the Widow ~ One Hand for the Orphan
In Psalm 68:5-6 The Lord says he is the ... "Father to the fatherless,
a defender of widows ... God sets the lonely in families... "
We know that not everyone is called to adopt children into their home.
But we are all called to care for the orphan.
James 1:27 says, "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble ..."
I once asked a pastor, what this really meant. He said basically if you are a Christian, this is what you are supposed to do.
For our family we feel it is a calling from God to open our hearts and our home to orphans. Is it easy? NO. Is it worth it? Absolutely...
Isaiah 1:17 says, "Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the Orphan, Plead for the widow."
So today I am defending the cause of the Orphan.
Let me tell you a little story:
Once there was an old man walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a young man.
As he got closer, he noticed that the young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.
He called out "May I ask what it is that you are doing?"
The young man looked up, and replied, "Throwing starfish into the ocean."
"Why are you doing this?" asked the old man.
To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."
Upon hearing this, the old man commented, "But, young man, don’t you realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"
At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, "I made a difference to that one!"
When our son Gezaw first came home, he told us:
At night he would lie down on his face and pray for a family.
For many days he did this.
We believe there are many others out there that are praying.
Today I want to invite you to be the answer to a child’s prayer:
Whether it is through Adoption, Missions or Financially.
They estimate that there are 152 million orphans in the world.
So does it really matter when you rescue 2?
It does to those to those 2.
How many people know that last Sunday was Orphan Sunday?
Last Saturday we did our Both Hands Project ~
One Hand for the Widow ~ One Hand for the Orphan
In Psalm 68:5-6 The Lord says he is the ... "Father to the fatherless,
a defender of widows ... God sets the lonely in families... "
We know that not everyone is called to adopt children into their home.
But we are all called to care for the orphan.
James 1:27 says, "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble ..."
I once asked a pastor, what this really meant. He said basically if you are a Christian, this is what you are supposed to do.
For our family we feel it is a calling from God to open our hearts and our home to orphans. Is it easy? NO. Is it worth it? Absolutely...
Isaiah 1:17 says, "Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the Orphan, Plead for the widow."
So today I am defending the cause of the Orphan.
Let me tell you a little story:
Once there was an old man walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a young man.
As he got closer, he noticed that the young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.
He called out "May I ask what it is that you are doing?"
The young man looked up, and replied, "Throwing starfish into the ocean."
"Why are you doing this?" asked the old man.
To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."
Upon hearing this, the old man commented, "But, young man, don’t you realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"
At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met the water, he said, "I made a difference to that one!"
When our son Gezaw first came home, he told us:
At night he would lie down on his face and pray for a family.
For many days he did this.
We believe there are many others out there that are praying.
Today I want to invite you to be the answer to a child’s prayer:
Whether it is through Adoption, Missions or Financially.
They estimate that there are 152 million orphans in the world.
So does it really matter when you rescue 2?
It does to those to those 2.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Sunday, November 7, 2010
One Hand for the Widow
Well, the first half or our Both hands Project was a great success! All week it was 65+ degrees and sunshine. But for Saturday, they were forecasting a cold front and rain. We prayed hard all week and commanded the clouds to BACK OFF!! The day began sunny and beautiful!
We had about 30 adults and 12 kids volunteer to help. In one day we accomplished as much as an army!
The pipes under her house were exposed and froze each year. We added fiberglass insulation and then added a plywood covering over it all.
We added Storm Doors to the front and back of her home.
We added 14 sheets of T1-11 paneling around the base of her home, covering the patchwork of beat up plywood.
We painted the entire worn out Brown house, a beautiful Sky Blue.
Her weathered wooden window frames were wrapped with white aluminum.
Her old wooden window sashes were scraped and painted a fresh white, along with her patio railings.
Two dump truck loads junk and trash were picked up and hauled off.
All her ripped and frayed screens were replaced.
Aluminum flashing replaced the rotting wood base around her home.
The decks were swept clean.
The windows were washed inside and out.
The inside of her home was swept, washed, cleaned, dusted, vacuumed and polished.
We each stopped for a few moments here and there throughout the day to sit and visit with her, to talk, to pray and to encourage her.
At the end of the day I sat with her and SHE prayed for ME! She prayed that all our needs would be met by the Lord. She was totally blessed and overwhelmed by the goodness of God ... how He answers us before we even ask Him for help!
And as the last car left, it began to rain. GOD IS SO GOOD!!!!
We had about 30 adults and 12 kids volunteer to help. In one day we accomplished as much as an army!
The pipes under her house were exposed and froze each year. We added fiberglass insulation and then added a plywood covering over it all.
We added Storm Doors to the front and back of her home.
We added 14 sheets of T1-11 paneling around the base of her home, covering the patchwork of beat up plywood.
We painted the entire worn out Brown house, a beautiful Sky Blue.
Her weathered wooden window frames were wrapped with white aluminum.
Her old wooden window sashes were scraped and painted a fresh white, along with her patio railings.
Two dump truck loads junk and trash were picked up and hauled off.
All her ripped and frayed screens were replaced.
Aluminum flashing replaced the rotting wood base around her home.
The decks were swept clean.
The windows were washed inside and out.
The inside of her home was swept, washed, cleaned, dusted, vacuumed and polished.
We each stopped for a few moments here and there throughout the day to sit and visit with her, to talk, to pray and to encourage her.
At the end of the day I sat with her and SHE prayed for ME! She prayed that all our needs would be met by the Lord. She was totally blessed and overwhelmed by the goodness of God ... how He answers us before we even ask Him for help!
And as the last car left, it began to rain. GOD IS SO GOOD!!!!
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Our Both Hands Project - This Saturday !
Nov 6th is Orphan Sunday weekend. Our family and a team of friends, will be performing a Home Makover for a local widow, while at the same time, raising funds to adopt 1-2 more orphans from Ethiopia. We need prayers and support. Can you help us spread the word?
So now we've got Good News and Bad News.
The Good News is we have been awarded a Matching Grant for $3000 from Lifesong for Orphans for our upcoming adoption. This means every dollar you give up to $3000, will be DOUBLED. :) $3000 = $6000!
The Bad News is that we don't get that grant money unless our friends support us. :( It's hard for us to ask you, but if you've been thinking about helping us by sponsoring us during our Both Hands Project ~ One Hand for the Widow ~ One Hand for the Orphan, please send in your donation soon! Our project is this Saturday, November 6th and although we can recieve your donations anytime, now is better than later! And by the way, all donations are tax deductible.
Our Both Hands Project is a fundraiser to adopt and give 2 more Institutionalized Orphans a Forever Family. We believe this is a calling on our lives from God, to raise the ransom and rescue these kids from a life of loneliness and despair. We appreciate your help.
To make a donation go to:
http://www.lifesongfororphans.org/bhProj.html
Scroll down to 11/06/10 and to the Schilling Family
Thank you so much!
Bonnie Schilling
So now we've got Good News and Bad News.
The Good News is we have been awarded a Matching Grant for $3000 from Lifesong for Orphans for our upcoming adoption. This means every dollar you give up to $3000, will be DOUBLED. :) $3000 = $6000!
The Bad News is that we don't get that grant money unless our friends support us. :( It's hard for us to ask you, but if you've been thinking about helping us by sponsoring us during our Both Hands Project ~ One Hand for the Widow ~ One Hand for the Orphan, please send in your donation soon! Our project is this Saturday, November 6th and although we can recieve your donations anytime, now is better than later! And by the way, all donations are tax deductible.
Our Both Hands Project is a fundraiser to adopt and give 2 more Institutionalized Orphans a Forever Family. We believe this is a calling on our lives from God, to raise the ransom and rescue these kids from a life of loneliness and despair. We appreciate your help.
To make a donation go to:
http://www.lifesongfororphans.org/bhProj.html
Scroll down to 11/06/10 and to the Schilling Family
Thank you so much!
Bonnie Schilling
Our Both Hands Project - One Hand for the Widow - One Hand for the Orphan
As you know, this last Easter, we adopted and brought home 3 children from Ethiopia. Now we are a family of eight. You would think our family was complete!
We thought so too, until just recently, when we felt the Lord inviting us once again to open our hearts and home, to at least one little boy, perhaps two.
Last year we witnessed the Lord’s provision in miraculous ways and we firmly believe that what He... calls us to do, He will provide for. So we are taking another huge step of faith and surrendering our lives to the Lord’s purposes for our family and His kingdom. Where He leads us, we want to follow.
We’ve organized a Both Hands Project for this Saturday, November 6th. Both Hands is a Christian organization partnering with Lifesong for Orphans that helps serve widows in local communities in practical ways, while raising funds to help orphans become adopted.
If you have ever sponsored somebody to participate in a walk-athon or a 5K run, this will be an easy concept to understand. Instead of running, a team of about 14 people, including us, will be spending one entire day working on a widow’s home, performing minor repairs and fixing up her house inside and out. Basically all the work that can be completed in just one Saturday. Sort of a home improvement and landscape makeover.
We will be asking people to sponsor us while we work and serve a widow and the money will be used to help bring these orphans home to their forever family.
To check out Both Hands and Lifesong for Orphans online, go to:
www.lifesongfororphans.org/bothHands.html
If you would like to sponsor us:
Online at www.lifesongfororphans.org/bhProj.html
Scroll down to find Charlie and Bonnie Schilling
choose the Donate button.
Check made payable to Lifesong for Orphans
Be sure to write Schilling Adoption #1604
in the memo section of your check.
Mail your check to:
Lifesong for Orphans,
PO Box 40,
202 N. Ford St,
Gridley, IL 61744
THANK YOU!!!!
We thought so too, until just recently, when we felt the Lord inviting us once again to open our hearts and home, to at least one little boy, perhaps two.
Last year we witnessed the Lord’s provision in miraculous ways and we firmly believe that what He... calls us to do, He will provide for. So we are taking another huge step of faith and surrendering our lives to the Lord’s purposes for our family and His kingdom. Where He leads us, we want to follow.
We’ve organized a Both Hands Project for this Saturday, November 6th. Both Hands is a Christian organization partnering with Lifesong for Orphans that helps serve widows in local communities in practical ways, while raising funds to help orphans become adopted.
If you have ever sponsored somebody to participate in a walk-athon or a 5K run, this will be an easy concept to understand. Instead of running, a team of about 14 people, including us, will be spending one entire day working on a widow’s home, performing minor repairs and fixing up her house inside and out. Basically all the work that can be completed in just one Saturday. Sort of a home improvement and landscape makeover.
We will be asking people to sponsor us while we work and serve a widow and the money will be used to help bring these orphans home to their forever family.
To check out Both Hands and Lifesong for Orphans online, go to:
www.lifesongfororphans.org/bothHands.html
If you would like to sponsor us:
Online at www.lifesongfororphans.org/bhProj.html
Scroll down to find Charlie and Bonnie Schilling
choose the Donate button.
Check made payable to Lifesong for Orphans
Be sure to write Schilling Adoption #1604
in the memo section of your check.
Mail your check to:
Lifesong for Orphans,
PO Box 40,
202 N. Ford St,
Gridley, IL 61744
THANK YOU!!!!
Friday, October 15, 2010
When the devil comes in like a flood ...
Wow, these past few day have been like a flood ... High and low events like you wouldn't believe ....
But our God is faithful ... When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him. (Isaiah 59:19)
I am like a lamb ... we are the sheep of His pasture ... I KNOW the voice of the Shepherd, My Father. His voice does not bring fear, chaos or stir up anger. That is the voice of the enemy. In the midst of the storm, His voice brings peace.
The morning after receiving awesome confirmation from the Lord that we were on the right path, we were instantly in the middle of a storm. It left us angry, confused, disillusioned, feeling betrayed. But not towards the Lord.
We cried out to the Lord to speak to us, to let us know we heard Him correctly, to speak to us in the midst of the storm.....
And that He did!
As I was walking out of my bedroom, I noticed a piece of folded notebook paper sticking up out of a slightly opened dresser drawer. An unusual sight, since I don't even use that dresser, except for storage. Ordinarily, I would have just shoved it back in and shut the drawer, but somehow it intrigued me. I picked it and opened it. This was a letter that had gone missing shortly after receiving it 5 years ago. The letter was dated 8/11/05. It was from a good friend in Oregon, who had sent us a check for $100, when we were attempting to raise funds five years ago to adopt 2 little boys from Guatemala. We raised a total of $170. A clear indication that the doors were shut. We never cashed the check, and soon the envelope and it's contents went missing. I was so sad about it, I never even thanked her.
So as we were crying out to the Lord to give us direction, to calm the storm, to bring clarity and peace, we read the letter.
"May the Lord MULTIPLY what He sends you in all love offerings, especially in what I am sending today. May He open the heavens and richly bless you and yours with His Love .... Regena. The letter and check were dated 8/11/05. Five years TO THE DAY of the re-adoption of our 3 new Ethiopian children.
For us, this was a huge confirmation that the Lord heard our prayers and that we are on the right path ... the path that He has set before us today. We were both instantly flooded with the peace that comes from the Lord.
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27
Thank you Jesus.
But our God is faithful ... When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him. (Isaiah 59:19)
I am like a lamb ... we are the sheep of His pasture ... I KNOW the voice of the Shepherd, My Father. His voice does not bring fear, chaos or stir up anger. That is the voice of the enemy. In the midst of the storm, His voice brings peace.
The morning after receiving awesome confirmation from the Lord that we were on the right path, we were instantly in the middle of a storm. It left us angry, confused, disillusioned, feeling betrayed. But not towards the Lord.
We cried out to the Lord to speak to us, to let us know we heard Him correctly, to speak to us in the midst of the storm.....
And that He did!
As I was walking out of my bedroom, I noticed a piece of folded notebook paper sticking up out of a slightly opened dresser drawer. An unusual sight, since I don't even use that dresser, except for storage. Ordinarily, I would have just shoved it back in and shut the drawer, but somehow it intrigued me. I picked it and opened it. This was a letter that had gone missing shortly after receiving it 5 years ago. The letter was dated 8/11/05. It was from a good friend in Oregon, who had sent us a check for $100, when we were attempting to raise funds five years ago to adopt 2 little boys from Guatemala. We raised a total of $170. A clear indication that the doors were shut. We never cashed the check, and soon the envelope and it's contents went missing. I was so sad about it, I never even thanked her.
So as we were crying out to the Lord to give us direction, to calm the storm, to bring clarity and peace, we read the letter.
"May the Lord MULTIPLY what He sends you in all love offerings, especially in what I am sending today. May He open the heavens and richly bless you and yours with His Love .... Regena. The letter and check were dated 8/11/05. Five years TO THE DAY of the re-adoption of our 3 new Ethiopian children.
For us, this was a huge confirmation that the Lord heard our prayers and that we are on the right path ... the path that He has set before us today. We were both instantly flooded with the peace that comes from the Lord.
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27
Thank you Jesus.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
My God Shall Supply ALL of Your Needs ....
My husband spent a day in Prayer and Fasting a while back. When he was done, I asked him if the Lord had told him anything. He said we need to get a van. To be honest, I thought he was a little off. (This was before I heard the Lord asking us to open up our hearts and home to adopt more kids from Ethiopia.)
We had a Suburban, in fact we have two. Although the older one is for sale. But recently when we decided to adopt we realized, we need a van. We have enough room for the eight people in our family to rise together but not one or two more.
Well this local Catholic Non-Profit organization was selling their used van. Our Pastor's wife, Julie told us about it parked out on a main street in Butte, where we go to church. So we called about it. Turns out they just had a new van donated to them. We test drove it and we liked it. Then I told the very nice man, Leroy, that I was praying that the Lord would have them donate it to us. He smiled. Told me to write a letter to the Board of Directors.
So I put this prayer request out on Facebook, asking my friends to pray that they would donate the van to us.
First they dropped the price down $500. We said thanks. Then we applied for a loan we really could not afford. We got approved. Then we asked them would they consider coming down a little more on the price. He said they would be having a board meeting Tuesday (today) and he would bring it up at the meeting.
Well Leroy called me tonight and said, "How are you Bonnie? Have you been praying? The van is yours. You can pick it up as soon as you'd like to."
THEY DONATED THE VAN TO US!!!! Isn't the Lord AMAZING????
We had a Suburban, in fact we have two. Although the older one is for sale. But recently when we decided to adopt we realized, we need a van. We have enough room for the eight people in our family to rise together but not one or two more.
Well this local Catholic Non-Profit organization was selling their used van. Our Pastor's wife, Julie told us about it parked out on a main street in Butte, where we go to church. So we called about it. Turns out they just had a new van donated to them. We test drove it and we liked it. Then I told the very nice man, Leroy, that I was praying that the Lord would have them donate it to us. He smiled. Told me to write a letter to the Board of Directors.
So I put this prayer request out on Facebook, asking my friends to pray that they would donate the van to us.
First they dropped the price down $500. We said thanks. Then we applied for a loan we really could not afford. We got approved. Then we asked them would they consider coming down a little more on the price. He said they would be having a board meeting Tuesday (today) and he would bring it up at the meeting.
Well Leroy called me tonight and said, "How are you Bonnie? Have you been praying? The van is yours. You can pick it up as soon as you'd like to."
THEY DONATED THE VAN TO US!!!! Isn't the Lord AMAZING????
Monday, October 4, 2010
Tickle Me!
Ever since Zakeya (4 yrs old) came home to live with us, she has not been ticklish. Instead she gets this distant look on her face and hardens herself, will not smile, will not laugh.
We've been praying for her to let down her walls, and for the Lord to immerse her in His love.
She made a decision to be baptized yesterday and today ... SHE IS TICKLISH!!!!
We've been praying for her to let down her walls, and for the Lord to immerse her in His love.
She made a decision to be baptized yesterday and today ... SHE IS TICKLISH!!!!
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