First off, I want to say a huge THANK YOU to all of you who posted scriptures. There were several verses which God used to immediately speak to me. And for all the others, it was uplifting to see how the Lord was speaking to each of you through His living word. Isn't the Lord awesome?! It is amazing to me how He can speak to each of us individually. What a mighty God we serve!
Next, for a Treyson's Purpose update. We would like to welcome Heather(her blog is at http://newbride05.blogspot.com/) to Treyson's Purpose. She will be taking a position on the board of directors as the Treasurer. We are so very excited! She was an exact answer to prayer. The Lord's orchestration of this whole endeavor, thus far, has been supernatural.
The point we are at right now is finishing up our bylaws, finalizing the board of directors, and finalizing our mission statement(which I will share with you as soon as it is finished). Our next step will be meeting with a lawyer and filing papers at the courthouse to be incorporated.
If you are wondering how to pray for us specifically in the next couple of weeks, then here you go:
-Pray that we will find the right person for the Secretary postion on the board of directors.
-Pray that the wording of the mission statement will convey the heart of the ministry that we are desiring to provide.
-Pray that the lawyer that we plan on working with will have a burden on his heart from the Lord to help with this ministry.
Finally, thank you so much for all of your prayers and encouragement thus far. It has been so encouraging to see that others share this same burden to minister to those mother's who feel helpless and assume that abortion is their only option. We strongly desire to provide hope and encouragment through the love of Jesus.
I wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving. No matter your situation, remember the many many things that you have to be thankful for.
Until we blog again....
Jessica
Monday, November 24, 2008
Friday, November 14, 2008
Heartbreaking
1.3 million abortions are performed each year.
13,000 of those abortions are on babies 21 weeks and OLDER.
These statistics are from the United States alone.
13,000 of those abortions are on babies 21 weeks and OLDER.
These statistics are from the United States alone.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Challenge
I am issuing a challenge. Meagan and I will be spending this next week(and longer, if necessary) praying a searching scripture for a particular verse that can be a part of our statement of purpose. We are in the process of writing our bylaws and we would like a scripture to be in our mission statement. I have several scriptures that immediately come to mind when I think of what a miracle from God that each unborn life is. But I would like your input also. I challenge you to search the scriptures and let me know what the Lord shows you. Anything that has to do with the uniqueness of each life, the sacredness of life, how much Jesus loves each one of us, or any verse where the Lord reveals something to you that could even remotely relate to our organization. I want all the verses you can throw my way. Feel free to post more than once if the Lord shows you more scripture throughout the week. I am going to compile them all, and then next Tueday Meagan and I will talk and pray through them all. You are also more than welcome to throw your own two cents in if the Lord shows you something. I am praying that the Holy Spirit will guide each of you and whisper something special to you this week.
"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you."
-Ephesians 1:18
Happy reading!
"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you."
-Ephesians 1:18
Happy reading!
Monday, November 10, 2008
Lukeism
I am sure that tomorrow evening I will be posting something completely awesome about all the progress that Treyson's Purpose is making. But for now I will leave you with a Lukeism or two.
Tonight at supper Luke made an interesting statement. We were kind of playing a game where Luke called out different statements and if they applied to you you would raise your hand. I wasn't paying too much attention for the most part. I would raise my hand here and there if I thought that the statement applied to me, or just to satisfy Luke. But he decided to make a statement that seemed innocent, at first glance, but in the end came back to bite me.
Luke: "Everybody that wants to go to heaven, raise your hand."
Of course, we all raised our hands. I even think that Ray raised her hand once she saw Josh, Luke, and I all holding our hands up high.
Luke: "Daddy, I think that you should die a little while before Mama so that you can have a little bit of time away from her so that you can have some peace."
Not kidding. That is word for word what my child said.
Josh immediately started giggling as indescreetly as possible. I, on the other hand, started choking on my chicken spaghetti. What in the world?! My child thinks that the only way that his Daddy can get some peace is for him to die before me?????
Goodness gracious! I guess I have some rethinking to do about how I interact with my husband. If it makes me look any better(which now I am thinking that is doesn't), a little later Luke went on the say,
"Mama, you should die before Ray so that you can get a little bit of peace too."
Children.
Way too observant.
Tonight at supper Luke made an interesting statement. We were kind of playing a game where Luke called out different statements and if they applied to you you would raise your hand. I wasn't paying too much attention for the most part. I would raise my hand here and there if I thought that the statement applied to me, or just to satisfy Luke. But he decided to make a statement that seemed innocent, at first glance, but in the end came back to bite me.
Luke: "Everybody that wants to go to heaven, raise your hand."
Of course, we all raised our hands. I even think that Ray raised her hand once she saw Josh, Luke, and I all holding our hands up high.
Luke: "Daddy, I think that you should die a little while before Mama so that you can have a little bit of time away from her so that you can have some peace."
Not kidding. That is word for word what my child said.
Josh immediately started giggling as indescreetly as possible. I, on the other hand, started choking on my chicken spaghetti. What in the world?! My child thinks that the only way that his Daddy can get some peace is for him to die before me?????
Goodness gracious! I guess I have some rethinking to do about how I interact with my husband. If it makes me look any better(which now I am thinking that is doesn't), a little later Luke went on the say,
"Mama, you should die before Ray so that you can get a little bit of peace too."
Children.
Way too observant.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Treyson's Purpose
I'm going to try to make this one short and sweet. I just want to give a quick update about the status of the non-profit organization we are in the process of starting up.
First off, we have a name and it is Treyson's Purpose. Meagan came up with it and Josh and I completely LOVE IT! From the very begining Meagan said that she wanted the name to have something to do with Treyson or have his name in it. Being his mother, I, of course, thought that was a great idea. (can't you see me smiling?) So what she came up with Treyson's Purpose I thought it was simply perfect. The name encompasses how we feel about the unborn. They were created for a purpose. Every single life, no matter how long or short, is a miracle from God that has a specific individual purpose. Treyson's life, like the lives of the unborn babies we are trying to protect, also had/has purpose. Treyson's Purpose will carry on his legacy by helping to protect other children. I love the name! Meagan did great!
Now, as to where we are in getting things up and running. We have been doing our research as to where we need to start. We want everything to be done in the right way and in the right order so that nothing comes back to bite us in the end. Plus, as I said before, we believe that God could grow us to be a nationwide organization. Therefore, we need to be organized and orderly from the begining.
The first items on the agenda are getting our bylaws written and getting the roles of our board defined. We are still reseaching and gathering our resources.
Remain in prayer for us please. We have a meeting with the director of the Hope Center for Crisis Pregnancy in Beaumont this Thursday evening. It is mainly and for gathering information. We have also talked to the Birthright Center in Beaumont. They do alot of the same things that the Hope Center does. The lady that Meagan talked to was wonderful. They are very excited about what we are doing and are willing to help any was that they could. She said that the Mid-County and Port Arthur area needs something like this desperately. Her enthusiasm was encouraging to us.
Oh, and those of you who have said that you want to help....get ready! Once we get things a little better lined out I will be giving you a call. Get ready to make a difference!!
First off, we have a name and it is Treyson's Purpose. Meagan came up with it and Josh and I completely LOVE IT! From the very begining Meagan said that she wanted the name to have something to do with Treyson or have his name in it. Being his mother, I, of course, thought that was a great idea. (can't you see me smiling?) So what she came up with Treyson's Purpose I thought it was simply perfect. The name encompasses how we feel about the unborn. They were created for a purpose. Every single life, no matter how long or short, is a miracle from God that has a specific individual purpose. Treyson's life, like the lives of the unborn babies we are trying to protect, also had/has purpose. Treyson's Purpose will carry on his legacy by helping to protect other children. I love the name! Meagan did great!
Now, as to where we are in getting things up and running. We have been doing our research as to where we need to start. We want everything to be done in the right way and in the right order so that nothing comes back to bite us in the end. Plus, as I said before, we believe that God could grow us to be a nationwide organization. Therefore, we need to be organized and orderly from the begining.
The first items on the agenda are getting our bylaws written and getting the roles of our board defined. We are still reseaching and gathering our resources.
Remain in prayer for us please. We have a meeting with the director of the Hope Center for Crisis Pregnancy in Beaumont this Thursday evening. It is mainly and for gathering information. We have also talked to the Birthright Center in Beaumont. They do alot of the same things that the Hope Center does. The lady that Meagan talked to was wonderful. They are very excited about what we are doing and are willing to help any was that they could. She said that the Mid-County and Port Arthur area needs something like this desperately. Her enthusiasm was encouraging to us.
Oh, and those of you who have said that you want to help....get ready! Once we get things a little better lined out I will be giving you a call. Get ready to make a difference!!
Friday, November 7, 2008
Apology
When I was laying in bed praying last night I became convicted about something. I feel that I may have been a little harsh in my last post with a few of the things that I said. That was not at all my intention. I truly want everything I do in life to be done in love. While the scripture confirms that there are times to rebuke and correct, that also needs to be done in love. The whole, "shame on you" comment probably wasn't the most loving way I could try to move some of you to action and I am truly sorry for that. Abortion is just a very emotional topic to me. I am so angered by the injustice being done that I sometimes let my emotions take over. I get so angry that I see red. Then I start spouting off at the mouth and I don't think about how my words could have effected others until later. I realize this about myself and I with God's help I am working on it. I do believe that there is a time for righteous anger. And if there were ever an issue of be righteously angry about abortion would be it. But even when anger is righteous berating others is never right. Once again, I am sorry. I hope that none of you were turned off to praying for and helping out with this ministry in the future.
Love you all,
Jessica
Oh, on a side note there is something else that I have been wanting to mention. I am angry that abortion is legal, especially partial birth abortion. I am angry at the doctors that spend years studying how intricate and amazing the human body is, take the the Hippocratic oath, and then are able to end the life of thousands of innocent babies.(I heard recently of a doctor that has performed over 10,000 abortions.) This is what I am angry about, not necessarily angry at the mothers who are having the abortions. For a long time I was. It wasn't until I read a book called "I'll Hold You in Heaven" that I changed my perspective. A good friend gave me this book after I lost Treyson. It is a scriptural reassurance to those who have lost a child that there child is in heaven and that if they are a follower of Christ then they will be reunited with their child in heaven.(If you are unsure what that means or are unsure if you are, then I would love it if you would email me at
josh-jesscarlin@hotmail.com and we could correspond.)
Anyway, while reading this book the author, Jack Hayford, really opened my eyes to the fact that I should be more merciful and less judgemental towards those who have chosen to have an abortion. There are many reasons why a woman would chose to do that. No matter the reason, it doesn't make it any less wrong. But still, unless you have walked in that person's shoes you have no idea what they may be thinking and feeling. And what it truly boils down to is this; all sins are equal in God's eyes. He has the grace to cover every one to the fullest. If God has forgiven my many many sins, then I not only can forgive and show mercy, but I am required to.
That is why my heart goes out to these women. I want to minister to them in any way that they need. And through love, show them that they have other options that they might not have known exisisted or could be available to them. Continue to pray as we follow where God is leading us.
Love you all,
Jessica
Oh, on a side note there is something else that I have been wanting to mention. I am angry that abortion is legal, especially partial birth abortion. I am angry at the doctors that spend years studying how intricate and amazing the human body is, take the the Hippocratic oath, and then are able to end the life of thousands of innocent babies.(I heard recently of a doctor that has performed over 10,000 abortions.) This is what I am angry about, not necessarily angry at the mothers who are having the abortions. For a long time I was. It wasn't until I read a book called "I'll Hold You in Heaven" that I changed my perspective. A good friend gave me this book after I lost Treyson. It is a scriptural reassurance to those who have lost a child that there child is in heaven and that if they are a follower of Christ then they will be reunited with their child in heaven.(If you are unsure what that means or are unsure if you are, then I would love it if you would email me at
josh-jesscarlin@hotmail.com and we could correspond.)
Anyway, while reading this book the author, Jack Hayford, really opened my eyes to the fact that I should be more merciful and less judgemental towards those who have chosen to have an abortion. There are many reasons why a woman would chose to do that. No matter the reason, it doesn't make it any less wrong. But still, unless you have walked in that person's shoes you have no idea what they may be thinking and feeling. And what it truly boils down to is this; all sins are equal in God's eyes. He has the grace to cover every one to the fullest. If God has forgiven my many many sins, then I not only can forgive and show mercy, but I am required to.
That is why my heart goes out to these women. I want to minister to them in any way that they need. And through love, show them that they have other options that they might not have known exisisted or could be available to them. Continue to pray as we follow where God is leading us.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
5 Months
Today is Treyson's five month birthday.
Ok, so I know that I kinda left you hanging out there in the unknown with that last post, so this one is to kind of explain our new venture and how you can pray for us.
My sister-in-law, Meagan, and I are in the process of starting a non-profit pro-life organization that provides support, resources, and alternatives to pregnant women that are considering having an abortion.
Meagan and I both have a heart for several different ministries. We both want to help international orphanages and the orphans that are trying to survive in horrible living conditions. We both would like to adopt(international or not), in fact Meagan has a passion for running an orphanage one day. We also both want to help children in the foster system. A good bit(but not all) of the "system" is corrupt and the innocent children are the ones having to suffer for it.
Besides international orphans and children in the foster system, the other major passion in both our lives is doing what ever possible, in love, to stop abortion. (key phrase there being in love) We have both researched it and neither of us are eligible right now to adopt internationally. Also, while as much as we both want to foster children that are in need of a home and foster parents, neither of us feels that God is calling us to do that right now. There is also another ministry that Josh has a strong burden for called Operation Smile. Operation Smile provides medical treatment for children with cleft lips that are too poor to pay for the simple surgery that it takes to fix it. But, what Operation Smile, and the majority of the other international ministries need is the one thing that we don't have right now. Money.
On Tuesday Meagan and I talked about how frustrating it is to have the desire to help somehow, but not the means. In light on the election that day, our conversation turned from orphans to abortion. If you want to get me really low blood pressure up into the normal range in about point 0.2 seconds, then just say the word abortion. I know way too much about abortion for it to be one of those topics that I can sit back speak passively on the subject. (This is just a side note, but if you are a Christian and you are not very passionate about ending abortion, then you need to educate yourself on how an abortion is performed at different stages of pregnancy and the different types of abortions that there are. If you are unwilling to do this or are not moved not only to tears, but moved to act on behalf of the innocent lives that are being killed mercilessly, then shame on you.) Ok, off the soap box and back to business. Anyway, abortion gets Meagan and I both riled up. We decided that we couldn't sit back and not do something anymore. We didn't know that that something would be. Neither of us have the funds to do much in that regards(when I say that Josh and I don't have the funds, I mean that we don't have enough income to even pay our bills every month. God is good though and the bills get paid.) So, not only do neither of us have any extra money laying around, but we completely disagree with the way that alot of pro-life people choose to act. There will be no picketing at abotion clinics. There will be no standing on the side of the road with condemning signs that scream that abortion is murder. While abortion is murder, condemnation is NOT the way to end it. We want to do everything in love. Christ came to love, not condemn. So we want every aspect of anything that we do to be in Christ's love.
From this conversation, we both sprang in to action. I have had the desire to do something in this area for a long time. I have been praying about it since right before we evacuated for hurricane Ike(that and another request that I am sure will be shared in due time). This was, by far, not my first conversation with Meagan about abortion and wanting to do something to stop it. But this particular conversation was the God's nudge. Have you ever had one of those moments? The moment where you do something that you may have done many times before, but God suddenly jumps all over it and it is like you are seeing it for the first time? Well that is what this conversation was for me.
Tuesday evening we talked several more times about where we wanted this ministry to head and all that we wanted it to encompass. God was already moving. I went to bed Tuesday night know what it was that God wanted me to do, but still with no idea how. Wednesday morning Meagan figured out the how. What went from months to years to get running, went to weeks to possibly a couple of months.
Wow, God! That was fast!
Over the past few days we have covered so much ground it is astounding. God is already working in incredible supernatural ways. We still have a ways to go, but God's hand has been so amazingly all over this so far that I would not be one bit surprised if we were up and running much sooner than planned. As we continue in our gathering information and lining out all that we need to accomplish in the next weeks and months I will post more specific prayer requests. I will let you know of ways that you can help out also, whether you live here in this area or not we can most definately use your help. We have plans of going nationwide eventually(told you it was BIG plans), so having help and contacts all over the country is something that we are looking for.
For now you can just be in prayer for us as follow where God is leading. It has only been two days and so far it has been amazing!
Happy five month birthday Treyson!
Ok, so I know that I kinda left you hanging out there in the unknown with that last post, so this one is to kind of explain our new venture and how you can pray for us.
My sister-in-law, Meagan, and I are in the process of starting a non-profit pro-life organization that provides support, resources, and alternatives to pregnant women that are considering having an abortion.
Meagan and I both have a heart for several different ministries. We both want to help international orphanages and the orphans that are trying to survive in horrible living conditions. We both would like to adopt(international or not), in fact Meagan has a passion for running an orphanage one day. We also both want to help children in the foster system. A good bit(but not all) of the "system" is corrupt and the innocent children are the ones having to suffer for it.
Besides international orphans and children in the foster system, the other major passion in both our lives is doing what ever possible, in love, to stop abortion. (key phrase there being in love) We have both researched it and neither of us are eligible right now to adopt internationally. Also, while as much as we both want to foster children that are in need of a home and foster parents, neither of us feels that God is calling us to do that right now. There is also another ministry that Josh has a strong burden for called Operation Smile. Operation Smile provides medical treatment for children with cleft lips that are too poor to pay for the simple surgery that it takes to fix it. But, what Operation Smile, and the majority of the other international ministries need is the one thing that we don't have right now. Money.
On Tuesday Meagan and I talked about how frustrating it is to have the desire to help somehow, but not the means. In light on the election that day, our conversation turned from orphans to abortion. If you want to get me really low blood pressure up into the normal range in about point 0.2 seconds, then just say the word abortion. I know way too much about abortion for it to be one of those topics that I can sit back speak passively on the subject. (This is just a side note, but if you are a Christian and you are not very passionate about ending abortion, then you need to educate yourself on how an abortion is performed at different stages of pregnancy and the different types of abortions that there are. If you are unwilling to do this or are not moved not only to tears, but moved to act on behalf of the innocent lives that are being killed mercilessly, then shame on you.) Ok, off the soap box and back to business. Anyway, abortion gets Meagan and I both riled up. We decided that we couldn't sit back and not do something anymore. We didn't know that that something would be. Neither of us have the funds to do much in that regards(when I say that Josh and I don't have the funds, I mean that we don't have enough income to even pay our bills every month. God is good though and the bills get paid.) So, not only do neither of us have any extra money laying around, but we completely disagree with the way that alot of pro-life people choose to act. There will be no picketing at abotion clinics. There will be no standing on the side of the road with condemning signs that scream that abortion is murder. While abortion is murder, condemnation is NOT the way to end it. We want to do everything in love. Christ came to love, not condemn. So we want every aspect of anything that we do to be in Christ's love.
From this conversation, we both sprang in to action. I have had the desire to do something in this area for a long time. I have been praying about it since right before we evacuated for hurricane Ike(that and another request that I am sure will be shared in due time). This was, by far, not my first conversation with Meagan about abortion and wanting to do something to stop it. But this particular conversation was the God's nudge. Have you ever had one of those moments? The moment where you do something that you may have done many times before, but God suddenly jumps all over it and it is like you are seeing it for the first time? Well that is what this conversation was for me.
Tuesday evening we talked several more times about where we wanted this ministry to head and all that we wanted it to encompass. God was already moving. I went to bed Tuesday night know what it was that God wanted me to do, but still with no idea how. Wednesday morning Meagan figured out the how. What went from months to years to get running, went to weeks to possibly a couple of months.
Wow, God! That was fast!
Over the past few days we have covered so much ground it is astounding. God is already working in incredible supernatural ways. We still have a ways to go, but God's hand has been so amazingly all over this so far that I would not be one bit surprised if we were up and running much sooner than planned. As we continue in our gathering information and lining out all that we need to accomplish in the next weeks and months I will post more specific prayer requests. I will let you know of ways that you can help out also, whether you live here in this area or not we can most definately use your help. We have plans of going nationwide eventually(told you it was BIG plans), so having help and contacts all over the country is something that we are looking for.
For now you can just be in prayer for us as follow where God is leading. It has only been two days and so far it has been amazing!
Happy five month birthday Treyson!
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Doxology
Well, this day has been quite a roller coaster ride. I woke up with anxiety about the election, feeling that I didn't do my part to help my candidates(John McCain and Sarah Palin, no point in beating around the bush at this point, eh?). That anxiety increased through out the day, minus a bright spot where I had an encouraging visit from a little angel mid-day. By the afternoon, though, I was so stressed out that I just had to get out of the house. My sister-in-law and I met at the park for the kids to play. Our conversation, of course, turned to the events of the day and the likely bad outcome of the election. My sister-in-law and I are very much on the same page about who to vote for and our main issue of importance. To put it how I told her and another friend, "I would vote for a two headed monkey if he were the only pro-life candidate to vote for." And in the words of her husband(Josh's older brother), "A vote for Obama is like voting for Charles Manson because they both promote mass murder." If you don't believe me, go to http://americaschoicenow.com/ and see for yourself.
Anyway, back to where I recieved some serious encouragement. As we talked Meagan(my sister-in-law) and I realized that God is leading us both in a somewhat unknow but seemingly the same direction. I know that sounds very vague, but God used it as a huge confirmation in my life. I would love to go in to more detail, but right now there is not a whole lot of details to be divulged. I will say that right at two months ago God laid some things on my heart that I have been praying about. It seems that God has put a very similar yet vague desire and burden on Meagan's heart. We talked at length and I was encouraged deeply. I saw God's hand moving in a big way. I knew with everything in me that God had placed this burden on my heart, but I had come to terms that it may be YEARS before it was anything but a prayer request. Apparently God knew that I needed some encouragement and confirmation a little sooner than that. I would be lying if I said that I wasn't at all stressed about the probable outcome of this election. But I am encouraged that God is still at work in my life and I know know KNOW that He is using me for a mighty purpose. How can I NOT be excited?!
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Anyway, back to where I recieved some serious encouragement. As we talked Meagan(my sister-in-law) and I realized that God is leading us both in a somewhat unknow but seemingly the same direction. I know that sounds very vague, but God used it as a huge confirmation in my life. I would love to go in to more detail, but right now there is not a whole lot of details to be divulged. I will say that right at two months ago God laid some things on my heart that I have been praying about. It seems that God has put a very similar yet vague desire and burden on Meagan's heart. We talked at length and I was encouraged deeply. I saw God's hand moving in a big way. I knew with everything in me that God had placed this burden on my heart, but I had come to terms that it may be YEARS before it was anything but a prayer request. Apparently God knew that I needed some encouragement and confirmation a little sooner than that. I would be lying if I said that I wasn't at all stressed about the probable outcome of this election. But I am encouraged that God is still at work in my life and I know know KNOW that He is using me for a mighty purpose. How can I NOT be excited?!
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Your Duty
Today is election day. I am urging everyone, if you haven't already done so, to go vote. I have been sitting back the past several months doing my best to not talk politics on my blog. But I woke up this morning feeling that by doing so I may have slacked on my duty as a Christian. I do not 100% agree with either candidate on every issue. Infact, the candidate that we strongly supported in the primaries did not win. But, as a Christian, I do not know how anyone can vote for a man that supports partial birth abortion. I believe that abortion in any way, shape, or form is wrong. But it is beyond me to understand how any person on the face of this earth with more that two brain cells could possible think that partial birth abortion is not as much murder as me shooting and killing someone.
I'm going to stop right there because my pulse is already racing and I am starting to get angry. I may post later if I can calm down. The point is...
GO VOTE!!
I'm going to stop right there because my pulse is already racing and I am starting to get angry. I may post later if I can calm down. The point is...
GO VOTE!!
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