Where in the world do I start? (chiefgopher)
posted Mon June 29th 2009 @ 7:27 AM

I've been struggling lately with which amazing and heart rendering event or experience  within just this week from this ministry to share with you.  There are such a flurry of precious  moments that have brought tears of thanksgiving and gratefulness to me as I've walked through each experience.

     Would it begin with the two "unexpected" early deliveries this week, with both tiny little girls weighing a mere four lbs? Would it be a supporter sending a significant gift after finding out the staff had not been fully paid for months? Or maybe the young, single mom who opened her doors without hesitation to allow a homeless pregnant single mom a safe place to live after a violent encounter with the drug dealing father of her first child? Would it be the birthmother with which we are working in the community who experienced a major breakthrough in finding out how much God the Father really loves her?  After growing up with a very abusive father, she saw God demonstrated through the lack of his love as an example of what she thought a father's love was.  But yesterday her father called her.  He said he wanted to talk with her.  Usually this would indicate a pending berating from the angry man.  This time though, he told her he was not the man he wanted to be and hadn't treated her as he knew he should have.  He told her he wanted to find the Jesus that she has discovered and asked her for help in doing so.  The constant ripple effect of loving these women with Christ's unconditional love is an incredible reminder and encouragement for this staff.  We just get caught off guard at times by the powerful reminders and have to hunt quickly for Kleenex.

    I don't think I could pick.  No way.  But each of them has reaffirmed my belief time after time that Breath Of Life is a vital, lifesaving, life changing ministry that God continues to use not only here in Austin, but around the nation, as well. The Internet helps us connect to women desperate for help, as she explains in her email where she wrote:

Read More »

Cute as a bug (chiefgopher)
posted Wed June 10th 2009 @ 5:09 PM

When was the last time you saw a bug and thought to yourself, "Dang, that bug is CUUUUTE."  Me neither.  Just hasn't happened.  But if it DID happen, I would have to use the phrase to describe our little Eve. (see attachment!)   She's the daughter of one of our graduates who recently moved back to the area and it is such a joy to be near both of them again.  Pray with us that God would continue to pour Himself into her mother's heart and remind her of how HE sees her and that she is such an amazing child of His. Read More »

the blessings pour out (chiefgopher)
posted Thu May 7th 2009 @ 12:34 PM

Sometimes the blessings come from God so quickly and powerfully in this ministry that I barely have the time to record them and testify to you about the incredible ways God shows up.

Two weeks ago I sat next to my son who addressed the Texas senate committee in chambers in the following manner:
                  "My name is Travis Floores and I'm a fifteen-year-old freshman at McNeil High School.  I'm here today, able to speak to you, because someone told my birthmother about the option of adoption for her baby.  She chose life for me because someone took the time to tell her about her choices.  I know there are a lot of others kids just like me in this state who are here because of just the same reasons.  More people need to think about the choice of adoption so that more kids can live.  I hope you'll pass the Choose Life license plate bill and let as many people as we can know about adoption and think about it as a choice when they don't know what to do."

I have to tell you, I sat next to him, with my turn to testify directly following his, just overwhelmed with a ton of emotions flooding over me.  Pride, appreciation, a sense of partnership in purpose, love and a deeply seeded gratefulness and thanks to our Father who has given us such a precious child for a son through adoption.  What an amazing quilt God continues to weave.  I never imagined having the opportunity to speak with Travis at such a significant event like a Texas senate chamber meeting.  But God opened the door.

Today....the Choose Life license plates in Texas bill received preliminary approval.  Praise be to our wonderful God.

And it continues...yesterday I returned from what I believe was, besides my wedding, the very best weekend of my life.  I was granted the opportunity and tremendous blessing of watching the little baby girl I'd placed for adoption 22 years ago graduate from a fantastic Christian university.  It really was one of the main daydreams that I would imagine during the years of praying and praying for her and hoping I could one day witness such an event.  Sitting there hearing her name called was surreal.  But even more so were the evenings spent laughing, crying and praying with her parents.  How in the world do I thank God for moments like those?

I know that answer.  I keep serving, offering Him every once of glory for what He continues to do in Breath of Life and the lives of the young mothers whom we help. These are difficult times.  The money is tight and we are significantly behind in our financial commitment to paying those who serve in this amazing ministry.  But I don't hear plans of any of us leaving....because the sheer joy and peace that come with knowing that you are exactly where God would have you be surpasses any concern that God might "not show up" to provide exactly what we need as we need it.

I know that God will show up here too: That same birthdaughter will face surgery today. The thyroid cancer that caused the removal of her thyroid last year has reappeared in the bed where it once lay.  Please, please pray with us for complete healing.  Sarah trusts the Lord with every fiber of her being.....but the parents still fall on their faces and plead the blood of Jesus over her for complete healing and wholeness.  You will be able to find an update on her condition on our website later today should you want to know more information.  In the meantime, join us in prayer.

The quilt continues to unfold, and I continue to stand amazed at the story God continues to stitch through the hearts and lives He puts in our paths.  May you be truly overwhelmed at His unconditional love, grace and provision this day.  What a tremendous Father we serve. Read More »

Update: Brazil! (chiefgopher)
posted Tue January 20th 2009 @ 1:04 PM

Tiny One Arrives (chiefgopher)
posted Tue August 19th 2008 @ 11:49 AM

I am continually amazed at the trust level God has with us.  He brings people and situations into our lives and trusts us to steward their hearts, their circumstances and to cover them with His incredible, unconditional love.
Read More »

Ukraine....WOW! (chiefgopher)
posted Sat May 31st 2008 @ 1:12 PM

What an amazing way God moves when we just make ourselves available.  So many of you covered our recent trip to Ukraine and we felt those prayers.  Words simply cannot express how much our team appreciated your gifts and support to get us to these precious friends in Christ to be able to encourage and train them. Read More »

God really can make all things new! (chiefgopher)
posted Fri December 21st 2007 @ 5:41 PM

“No one ever really believed in me before I came to Sarah’s House. They expected the worst. So I gave them just that. There wasn’t any hope. Not until this staff loved me and showed me that God really CAN make all things new. I am so much more blessed than I can ever really tell you. THANK you for believing in girls like me. Without you, we’d be left with no hope and no one to care.” ~Beth Read More »

Finding Hope (jvfaulks)
posted Fri December 21st 2007 @ 5:37 PM

“I didn’t have any hope. I was completely beaten down. I knew if I didn’t get help I wouldn’t make it any farther. I thank God for those willing to give me another chance and for love that doesn’t come with strings attached. I don’t know if I’d be here if you guys hadn’t been there for me. I love you.” ~Joy Read More »