Both Hands Pictures

https://plus.google.com/app/basic/stream/z13ax1d4yuigcdxkp22ytjxwvsuve3rqt04/share?cbp=knaeqbc02z8w&sview=1&cid=5&soc-app=115&soc-platform=1&adrmode=CONFIRMATION_NOT_NEEDED&spath=/app/basic/stream/z13ax1d4yuigcdxkp22ytjxwvsuve3rqt04 

SCORE for the WIDOW!!

Score one for the widow!!!

 God blessed us on all accounts today!!! The weather was beautiful, our 28 member team was wonderful, the work looks great, grandma is very happy, and no one got hurt or sick. 

There is no way today could have gone any better!!! 

We had workers from two different churches (Silk Hope Baptist and The Sycamore Church) come together in complete unison and harmony! 

Things went so well, we were completely cleaned up, packed up and leaving at 2 PM. Unbelievable!! We completed the list we planned and a few extra projects too! The kids were well behaved and VERY Helpful too!

Now we will complete our video ASAP and continue to pray that the donations will continue to roll in!! We have already raised $2,500 through this project. We would like to bring in the entire remaining balance of $9,314 with this project.

IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO GIVE

Our account remains open until the adoption is completed! Click this link to GIVE NOW: http://bothhandsfoundation.org/matt-and-bethany-manning 

Your donation is tax deductible!

We are thankful to be a part of this experience. It was all I dreamed it could be. The success of it all is evidence to me of all the prayers that were lifted and answered! 

To God be the glory! Great things He is doing!

Hand written & illustrated Beattitudes

This beautiful, accordion folded book was handmade by my Aunt Rebecca Carriere! It has 12 full color panels, and comes with its own box for storage.

She created it to help us raise money for the adoption. 

If you would like to have it, please message us with your suggested donation amount at mmbm31@comcast.net

Thank you for looking at this item and considering a donation!

And a big thank you to Aunt Rebecca for your beautiful artwork and time! We love you! 

Both Hands Donations Are Coming In!!!

The donations are starting to come in from the Both Hands Project! This is cool! 

If  God is prompting you to give, please don't tell Him "no". Saying "yes" to God always leads to such great blessings.

 If He is telling you "not this time", be peaceful! God will provide all that is needed for this adoption! 

Either way, please PRAY for us.  

Pray for God's protection and provision for Michal. Please pray for her to have enough food, warmth, and nurture no matter if He provides this through humans or angels. Please pray for the people in China and those at CCAI, our adoption agency that move the paperwork. Pray Michal's papers will get matched to our names as soon as absolutely possible. God has the timing worked out perfectly! Praise The Lord!

We would LOVE for this to be our LAST fundraiser!!! We only need about $10,800 more and we will be FINISHED!!!

Both Hands Donation Info.

Here is all the information you need about our Both Hands Project. 

We greatly appreciate every volunteer, donation, and prayer!

Our project is next week, Sat. Feb 22nd.

Here is the link to donate:
http://bothhandsfoundation.org/matt-and-bethany-manning 

Please pray for safety, good weather, and for Grandma Bessie. She is having a lot of pain in her shoulder, and may have surgery between now and next week.

Adoption ain't no fairy tale.

Here is a great speaker on adoption. It includes the good, the bad,and the ugly. Adoption ain't no fairy tale, but it is so beautiful. The video is a little long but worth the time. Here are some quotes to wet your appetite. 

Jesus lost his father so we could gain one. When God turned away from Jesus, he was alone. He was abandoned. God did that so we could gain oneness with the Father.

Life was easier before adoption. We didn't know the terrible reality of the orphan crisis, birth moms, adoptive families working through attachment disorders. 

There is more joy walking with God through fire than strolling on beaches without Him.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=share&v=kTpS8ij06M8&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DkTpS8ij06M8%26feature%3Dshare

Answers to prayer

God has been showering encouragement again today! 

First, Aimee from the Bith hands organization checked in on us and said we had been on her mind the past few days and she has been praying for us. 

Then, I got a snail mail note from my good friend Xia who moved to South Korea a year ago. That was especially meaningful because she went to the triuble to snail mail it so far just to encourage me on this journey. It was a simple note with a verses of encouragement about God being with me. Simple, but just what I needed. 

Finally, Aimee responded to the email I sent her telling of all we have been battering with health since Saturday and she sent me the following Battlefield Manifesto. I am including it here because it may help some of you with your battle. Our health battles continued yesterday and this morning, but all seemed to break after some good time in the prayer closet crying out to Jesus for healing and mercy after Jackson woke up throwing up at 5 am this morning. After that prayer time, I felt stronge enough to go to work today after a weekend of feeling really bad. Matthew got to the dentist today and had an immediate root canal. No fun, but it happens. We are thankful he could get what he needed and he will fell better in a few days. Please continue to pray for us daily. This is not an easy journey, but it is so worth it all to walk with God through it all!

A Battlefield Manifesto

By Bo Stern

Battles Bring Increase:  A Personal Manifesto for becoming Bigger on the Fighting Field 

Though I may suffer loss, I will not be diminished.  (Jeremiah 29:6; I Samuel 30:18-19)

 

My commander is the God who wins.  Always.  And with Him, I will win.  Always.  (I John 5:4-5; Romans 8:37-39)

 

I will grow by keeping a soft heart in hard times.   (Ezekiel 36:26-30)

 

I will grow in faith, knowing that the enemy can declare war, but he cannot decide the outcome.  (I John 5:19-20; Revelation 12:10-12)

 

I will see exponential increase by loving others well during battle – even when loving well seems very difficult.  (I John 4:12; Proverbs 17:17)

 

I will remember that a battle that ends in physical death gives birth to the victory that is REAL life.  (I John 2:17;  Philippians 1:21)

 

I will give myself permission to fully experience and express both joy and sorrow as I move through this battle, knowing that He is near to the brokenhearted and He came to bring fullness of joy. (Psalm 34:18;  Psalm 16:11; Neh 8:9-12)

 

On the hardest days, I will trust Him to be the lifter of my head, my light and my salvation. (Psalm 3:3; Psalm 27:1)

 

I will seek to know His strategy for my fight so that I can walk in clarity and joyful obedience. (Psalm 119:32-33; I Samuel 30:8-9)

 

I will live in peace with the mystery when all His ways cannot be known, understanding that He has already been to every minute and eternity will tell the whole story.  (Isaiah 42:9; Jeremiah 29:11)

 

I will keep the borders of my life secure by showing no mercy to marauders – things and thoughts that would steal joy, peace, hope, security. (Judges 6:3-6; Song of Solomon 2:15)

 

I will teach these things to my children – with my words and with my life – because they are fighters too.  (Psalm 78:4-7)

Reference- http://www.bostern.com/blog/2011/11/22/a-battlefield-manifesto/