When Are You Getting More Babies?

We are excited to answer this question.  Over the last week while earnestly seeking God in prayer and fasting, asking Him this same question, our GBH team has heard clearly from the Lord.

“Shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?” says the LORD. Isaiah 66:9

From its inception, Grace Babies’ Home has been a work of God. Miracle after miracle, the Lord has systematically and abundantly provided all that is needed to build the structure that will house His vision - orphaned babies being loved and cared for in the name of Jesus Christ. God will be faithful to deliver that which has come to birth.

The Mexican social services have temporarily put GBH on hold while they work to put some policies in place about placing babies in orphanages. The branch of social services that places babies into adoptive homes has separate interests from the branch that places babies into orphanages. These two parties are working together to form some structure around placing babies that is beneficial to all parties, namely the babies themselves. Grateful for our assistance to their cause, the social services are extremely apologetic for the delay and hope to place babies into our care very soon.

While we wait, God assures us He is actively working to deliver His vision for Grace Babies’ Home by giving us glimpses of His work on several other fronts. We have four young women who are in various stages of the application process to come serve as interns at GBH. After much prayer, searching, and several interviews the Lord has brought us a local Mexican doctor who wants to serve at GBH. Little by little, the Lord continues to send people who want to sponsor a baby and support the ministry financially.

Though God will be faithful to deliver that which He has brought to birth, He invites us to labor with Him in that work. In this last week we have been reminded that our labor must happen on our knees in prayer. For those of you who have chosen to make Grace Babies’ Home your ministry to orphans, we ask that you would join us in this great labor of love. Please post the following prayer requests on your fridge or bathroom mirror and commit to praying for this ministry daily:

“Shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?” says the LORD. Isaiah 66:9
- Pray that the Lord will deliver babies to Grace Babies’ Home according to His perfect purposes and timing.

For with God nothing will be impossible. Luke 1:37
- As nothing is impossible with God, pray that Telnor would bring us telephone lines in an unincorporated area, and an additional line would be added to our Verizon cell phone plan. Both of which are important to the efficiency and safety of the daily operations of the home.

“See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and understanding, in knowledge and all manner of workmanship…” Exodus 35:30-31
- Just as the Lord called by name the skilled men to build the tabernacle, pray that He will call by name a Spanish-speaking missionary nurse to serve fulltime at GBH.

2nd Annual TAF Tennis Tournament

A little over three and a half years ago, Arianna Kim Hamling left for heaven before even having a chance to take her first breath on this earth. Now in the arms of Jesus, Arriana continues to make a difference in the lives of babies and children throughout the world.

This weekend the Arriana Foundation hosted their 2nd annual tennis tournament to benefit Grace Babies’ Home. Over 30 people entered this lively and fun event. There were awards, player gifts, and a silent auction. As they looked down on this weekend and the impact it will have on little ones for all of eternity, we are sure that Arriana and the Lord are pleased.

Dan & Elizabeth Hamling (Founders of TAF) with Juan Strutton (Director of GBH)

Good-bye Natalia

At GBH we have a sense of urgency in spiritual matters with the babies entrusted to our care. We don’t know if or when they might be adopted or reunited with family. At most, we will have them for a few years of their lives. We can compare this short time with Moses’ mother and the short, few years she had to prepare her son to live in Pharaoh’s home. For this reason, we are careful and deliberate about spiritual training.

The verbiage above is an excerpt taken from our GBH Policies and Procedures under Behavioral and Spiritual Guidance. These words were written long before our first baby was placed into our care. We knew that our stewardship over these babies’ lives would be for a season, and therefore our time with them would be of the essence.

Having said that, when Natalia was placed into our care three weeks ago, we loved her with all we had. We cared for her physical, emotional and spiritual needs to the very best of our ability. Her days were spent being sung to about Jesus, read to about Jesus, and prayed over while being rocked. Being our first baby, she took center stage as the star in our GBH family and lived that role with grace.

When we received the bittersweet call yesterday that Natalia was to be adopted and the social services was on their way to pick her up, we choked back our tears and put on brave smiles. We gently woke her up from her nap with kisses and hugs, and changed her diaper for the last time. We prayed God’s blessing over her life and sent her on her way to meet her new family.

We trust that Natalia’s life is in God’s hands, and that just as He divinely orchestrated her arrival at GBH, He is divinely orchestrating her placement into a family who loves her. Though our hearts are hurting for our loss, they are rejoicing for her gain.

Please continue to pray for Baby Natalia. Pray for a smooth transition and adjustment into her new family. Pray for continued healing as she was just getting over a severe cold when she left. Pray for God’s hand of favor to continue to cover her and protect her. Pray that she would continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

As for our GBH family. While the Lord mends our hurting hearts, we are more passionate about our calling than ever. To be given stewardship over precious little lives with no promises as to how long that stewardship is granted, is an opportunity that comes with great responsibility. We are determined that while in our care; these little ones experience the presence of the Living God, the power of His healing, and the depth of His love for them. Please keep us in prayer as we continue to follow this call.

Tennis Anyone?

Our dear friends at The Arianna Foundation are hosting the 2nd Annual TAF Charity Tennis Tournament to benefit Grace Babies' Home on December 3rd and 4th at the Balboa Tennis Club in San Diego. There will be Awards, Player Gifts and a Silent Auction. 100% of your entry fee will go to the Lord's work here in Mexico.

To register or donate, please visit TAFtennis.net 

The deadline to register is November 27th.

Hello World.

Meet Natalia, our first baby at Grace Babies’ Home. She is six months old with a head full of curly black hair and a smile that will melt your heart. The very fact that she is here alludes to a life that hasn’t started under the best of circumstances. But we believe that God has brought her to us for a purpose and that He has destined her for greatness in His Kingdom. Please stop now and pray. Pray for Natalia’s healing: physically, emotionally and spiritually. Pray for us as we love her, care for her and try to figure out how to best meet her needs.

Grace Babies' Home Virtual Prayer Tour

For those of you who are unable to be here for our Open House and Dedication, we have created a virtual prayer tour of the home so you can join us in giving glory to our Lord for all He has accomplished here at Grace Babies' Home.

A Sprint to the Finish-line

At GBH these next few weeks feel like we are in a dead sprint to get things finished up before October 22nd when we plan to host our open house. God continues to bring exactly what we need when we need it, and this weekend was a testimony to that faithfulness. A handful of faithful servants from Westgate Church in the bay area worked long days and often into the night helping to get our facility ready. They worked on various building and carpentry projects, concrete work, finish painting, installing fixtures, sorting donated items, and so much more. God truly blessed the work of their hands.

CALL TO ACTION

PRAY - Pray that the Lord would move mountains to get a truck load of furniture down here that is waiting for proper customs agents with proper permits to move it through the border. Pray for our iron guy, that he would be able to get the fence job done in a timely manner.

SHARE - Invite someone new to the ministry of GBH to join you at our Open House, Day of Prayer and Dedication. 

GIVE - Help us get ready for babies by furnishing GBH with supplies. You can purchase and ship items from our Target Baby Registry, first name: Grace, last name: Babies' Home 

Santa Cruz Bible Church

This weekend Santa Cruz Bible Church returned to México to bless us by completing several projects at the Baby Home. The bathing room is now complete along with several bench storage units for the playroom, a new microwave oven in the kitchen, and door hardware on the front doors.. Our purified water system is fully functional and delivering clean water to the bathing room and all of the kitchens in the building.

CALL TO ACTION

PRAY - Pray that all the items on our list of things to complete before our Open House would be completed.

SHARE - Please spread the word about the Open House Day of Prayer and Dedication on October 22nd from 10 am until 4 pm

GIVE - As we draw closer to receiving our first babies, we need faithful monthly sponsors to provide for their constant care. Would you consider answering God’s call to defend and care for the fatherless by becoming a baby sponsor. Click here to start your monthly sponsorship.

You're Invited!

For Directions to Grace Babies Home, click here.

To View Our Target Baby Registry, click here.

Westgate and Trinity End of Summer

This past weekend we welcomed the crew from Westgate Church and Trinity Church. Many familiar faces returned and we got to know some new ones. The crew installed all the flooring and most of the baseboards in the downstairs and the apartment, finished all of the bathroom plumbing downstairs, and finished most of the outside entrance porch and ramp. Our toddler bathroom is now complete and the bathing room is almost finished. In addition, all of back splash tile work in the laundry, bathing, upstairs and downstairs kitchens was completed. We also took delivery of over 40 baby quilts hand made by the Westgate quilting group.

CALL TO ACTION

PRAY – Pray that the Lord sends us just the right people with the right skill sets to get all the little finish projects done.

SHARE – Use the “share this blog” buttons on the right side of this blog to share what God is doing at GBH with your friends and family.

GIVE – Help fund the operational costs of caring for our babies by sponsoring a baby for $40 monthly.

MacIntosh and Hansche Families

This week the MacIntosh and the Hansche families visited us from British Columbia, Canada. They worked diligently putting the finishing touches on all the cabinetry in the upstairs apartment and downstairs in the kitchen, bathing room and laundry room. They installed sinks, toilets, ceiling fans and pantry doors in the apartment. It was a true joy to get to know these two families with their sweet children. 

CALL TO ACTION 

PRAY – Pray that we can get all the materials and supplies ready for a team of 16 contractors coming next week. Pray that they are protected, productive, and blessed during their stay. 

SHARE – Forward this blog to your friends and family and ask them to prayerfully consider sponsoring a baby.

GIVE – If you feel called to support this ministry with your finances, your $40 monthly partnership will help feed, clothe and care for the needs of an orphaned baby while contributing to the monthly operations of the home. To begin your monthly sponsorship, click here.

Neighborhood Bible Church Round Two

This past week we were visited by the second team this summer from Neighborhood Bible Church. They worked tirelessly in the upstairs apartment installing cabinets and countertops in the kitchen and bathroom, installing ceiling fans and can-light trim kits as well as all of the electrical switches and outlets. When they left there were lights, power and a kitchen.

CALL TO ACTION

PRAY - Please pray for the process of receiving our first babies. There are hoops to jump through, people to meet and approvals to get.

SHARE - Please check out our Facebook page and be sure to “Like” it.

GIVE - As we begin the process of preparing for the babies that God has chosen to live here, would you be willing to help us prepare the way by Sponsoring a Baby?

You Shall Write Them On The Doorposts Of Your House

Once the walls were painted, we were eager to adorn them with God's Word. Our friend from Grace Chapel Indio, Kym McCoy, used her expertise to design and install Scripture on the walls in the nurseries, the toddler area, the infant area, the bathing room and the kitchen. Kym and Karina (also from GCI) labored for two days making our walls testify to the true Builder of this home. It is interesting that most of the Scripture on the painted walls is the same Scripture that was prayed over and written in sidewalk chalk on the framing under the drywall. 

CALL TO ACTION

PRAY - As we are winding down on construction, pray that the Lord sends us laborers specific to the tasks that are left.

SHARE - Talk about the ministry of GBH with one friend today. Share the link to this blog with them.

GIVE - We have currently raised 10% of our monthly operating budget. Pray about becoming a financial partner by sponsoring a baby for $40 a month. 

The Gamboas and Meadow Valley

Last weekend we were blessed to work along side our dear friends the Gamboa family. The Gamboas washed windows and installed window coverings. They sorted through mounds of baby clothes, built cribs and sanded drywall. They also framed two half walls, painted some doors and cleaned up around the perimeter of the home. Though their work ethic is something to be admired, their greatest gift to us on this trip was the gift of encouragement.

A group of several families from Meadow Valley Community Church spent their week serving the kids at the children’s home as well as working on projects at the baby home. They finished painting the back apartment, installed closet organizers in the apartment and intern rooms, finished the drywall on the half walls in the infant area, put together some cabinetry for the laundry room and got a big start to framing in the two tubs in the bathing room. A group of youth spent several days digging footings and bending rebar in preparation for the wall along the side of the home. It was a true joy to work with these families.

CALL TO ACTION

PRAY - In the next few weeks we are working to get donated baby items across the border. Please pray for God’s favor on us as we deal with Mexican customs on an almost daily basis right now.

SHARE - Invite us to come share the ministry of Grace Babies’ Home with your small group or home fellowship.

GIVE - Do you have any baby items sitting in your garage that you don’t need anymore? Send us an email and we will make arrangements to get your donated baby items down to GBH.

Neighborhood Bible and Elevation

The last two weeks have been filled with teams visiting from bay area churches. Neighborhood Bible Church of San Jose and Elevation Church of Santa Cruz returned each for a week of ministry and work on the Baby Home. The crew from NBC was focused on the upstairs apartment and worked hard to get the baseboards finished and the blinds hung in the two bedrooms. The Elevation work crew took on the task of assembling and installing cabinets in the bathing room and the laundry room. It was truly a blessing to reconnect with and work along side these faithful friends.

CALL TO ACTION

PRAY - Please pray for our dear friend, neighbor and resident GCH mechanic Lamberto and his family. His daughter has a heart condition and is in need of an operation. They have been in the hospital waiting for 10 days and now the hospital has postponed it for the third time.

SHARE - Are you signed up to receive our Baby Talk newsletter? Click here to subscribe.

GIVE - We cannot take babies without the funds to provide for their care. Would you consider joining us in this effort by sponsoring a baby? Click here to begin you sponsorship.

Oh Canada!

This week we saw the return of a group from Heritage Alliance Church in Abbotsford, BC. They came to continue working on the Baby Home as well as spend some time with the kids at GCH. They worked hard getting drywall ready for texturing and continued painting in the upstairs apartment. On Wednesday, fellow YUGO missionary Ron Struska helped get the walls textured while the team spent the day at the beach with the GCH kids. The rest of the week was dedicated to painting the laundry room, kitchen, and front play area, finishing up all the electrical, and beginning the assembly of some of our cribs. Thanks to a dear friend, we were able to get 12 cribs donated to us from a San Diego baby store. This was a very special time as it makes the completion of the building seem so much closer. The team also delivered two boxes of hand made quilts that now have a home in our four nursery rooms.

CALL TO ACTION

PRAY - Pray for the remaining teams scheduled to come and serve at GBH. That God would protect and equip them for the work that needs to be accomplished.

SHARE - Visit us on Facebook and share the GBH page with your friends.

GIVE - Become a committed monthly supporter of God’s work here at GBH by sponsoring a baby. Click here to begin your sponsorship.

A Few Good Men

It never gets old watching the Lord miraculously coordinate blessings for Grace Babies' Home. I have seen it so many times that if I blogged every one of them, I wouldn't have time for anything else. However, I feel led to share a little of what the Lord has been up to this weekend with a few good men and some of the resources that are ultimately at His disposal.

About once every other month for the last year we have had a group of faithful men come to work on the Baby Home from Grace Chapel of Indio. Rody Johnson has been on every one of these trips and has come down a few times on his own to keep things moving here at GBH. Rody is a retired police officer who now works part-time for the police department. Several weeks ago Rody was told that due to a clerical error he had worked too many hours for a retiree and had to take two weeks off. At the same time his son-in-law who is a contractor just happened to be starting a large remodel project needed some help demolishing a kitchen. He asked Rody to come and help. When Rody saw the beautiful kitchen cabinets and granite counter tops, he thought they would be useful for the downstairs kitchen in the Baby Home. For 6 hours, he carefully removed the cabinets and counter tops and loaded them into a trailer.

I received an email with pictures of the cabinets and countertops and immediately made plans to drive out to Indio and collect them. Two men from Grace Chapel of Indio were there to help me and a fellow missionary friend load the cabinets: Rody and Anthony Dean, another faithful member of the GCI teams that have come to GBH. Anthony is a contractor who just happens to specialize in tile and granite. We loaded the cabinets into the trailer and made plans for Anthony to bring the granite down a week later.

This weekend, three faithful servants from Grace Chapel Indio came down to install the countertops: Rody, Anthony, and my father-in-law, Lonnie, through whom we were first introduced to GCI.  The most amazing part of this story is the fact that the cabinets fit perfectly into the GBH kitchen. We didn't have to modify them in any way. When it was all installed Anthony remarked, "It is like someone designed these cabinets for this kitchen." "Someone did," I replied.

This story of God providing above and beyond what we had imagined, and then bringing His servants with the exact skill-set to accomplish the work can be told over and over again in regards to this project.  It is truly a work in which the glory belongs to God.

CALL TO ACTION

PRAY - Pray for the workers who will serve at GBH. God has selected them and is preparing them for service. As we begin to work with the Mexican Social Services (DIF) it is becoming more clear how important it is to have staff with medical training.

SHARE - If you didn't receive this blog via email, you can subscribe in the "follow by email" section on the right side of this blog. If you did receive the email, please forward it to your friends and family. Or use the "share" buttons to share with your social networks.

GIVE - Sponsor a baby here.

Grace Community Bible Church Team

This week we hosted a team of 30 youth and 10 adults from Sandy, Utah. They kept busy all week on various work projects at the children’s home as well as the baby home. Concrete footings for our front wall/gate were formed and poured, as well as a sidewalk down the side of the building. All four nurseries and the two back bedrooms downstairs were primed and painted. Doorjambs and baseboards were installed as well as lights, fans, and electric fixtures. Yes, it was a productive week! It was fun to see color go on the walls and things start to really take shape.

With all that was accomplished this week, the greatest pleasure was not in the work that was done, but in watching and observing the workers. Every year this group leaves us with tremendous hope for the next generation. Their foundation in Jesus and His Word is so solid that it permeates everything they say and do. Their strong work ethic and their respect for one another and for their leadership is something that is not readily seen in most kids their age. Paint is nice but hope is much better.

CALL TO ACTION

PRAY - Please pray for the Lord to raise up His army of faithful, committed supporters to partner with us in funding the monthly operational costs of Grace Babies' Home. 

SHARE - You can get real-time prayer requests via our Twitter Feed at twitter.com/GBHPrayer. Follow us and pray!

GIVE - Celebrate Father's Day by providing for the fatherless. Sponsor a baby here.

GCI/HCF

This weekend a lot of progress was made as we hosted a couple guys from Grace Chapel Indio for a few days and a group from Horizon Christian Fellowship on Saturday. Cabinets were installed in the downstairs kitchen. Walls were primed in the upstairs apartment and almost all the walls downstairs were textured. Baseboards and doors were painted and two bathrooms were tiled. We have a team of youth from Utah here all this week and they will pick up where these two groups left off.

CALL TO ACTION

PRAY – Pray for the group of youth working this week. That they would be kept safe and that God would bless them richly as they serve Him here in Mexico.

VOTE - At the end of April we submitted a short video highlighting the Lord's work at GBH to the Do Something World ministry. A $1,000 People's Choice Award will go to the video that garners the highest rating on their website. There are only 2 days left to vote! Help GBH win $1,000 by going to the Do Something World site and voting for our video. Follow these steps to vote:
     1. View the video here.
     2. Rate the video.
     3. Like the video.
     4. Comment on the video. 

SPONSOR A BABY - If you feel called to support this ministry with your finances, your $40 monthly sponsorship will help care for the needs of an orphaned baby while contributing to the operations of the home. Click here to begin your sponsorship. 

Santa Cruz Bible Church

This weekend we were visited by a team from Santa Cruz Bible Church. They served in various ways at GCH and part of the team kept busy working on the drywall downstairs at the Baby Home. Mudding and sanding drywall is a labor of love and this crew truly showed their love for the the Lord and His ministry here at GBH.

Westgate and Trinity

This weekend we were blessed to host Westgate Church and Trinity Church from San Jose, California. They worked diligently putting on the finishing touches of the upstairs residence, building a wall around the water heater, and continuing drywall work downstairs.

This faithful team was largely instrumental in the construction of the Education Center at GCH. As they continue to sacrifice of their time, treasure and talents, making several trips a year to México, the Lord continues to use them greatly to see Grace Babies’ Home become a reality.

CALL TO ACTION

PRAY - Please pray for physical and spiritual protection around the property at GBH.

SHARE - We would love to visit your home fellowship and share the vision for Grace Babies’ Home. To schedule a visit, contact us.

GIVE - In honor of your mom on this Mother's Day, would you sponsor a baby who doesn't have a mom?

Do Something World

About a month ago we received an email from a dear friend encouraging us to enter a video contest for the Do Something World ministry with The Rock Church in San Diego. The grand prize is $5,000 with the top 50 videos all receiving a cash prize. The video entries should be designed to encourage church, business and government leaders to harness the power of volunteerism, by mobilizing individuals to do something to transform their communities. After viewing a few videos already submitted, we quickly grew intimidated and dismissed the idea. 

Last night our friends emailed us again to remind us that the deadline is Saturday, April 30th. They pointed out that the Lord's work at Grace Babies' Home perfectly captures the spirit of the Do Something World ministry and encouraged us to pull something together. 

So here it is, a bit last minute and homespun. To God be the glory.

YUGO Ministries, Grace Babies' Home from Juan Strutton on Vimeo.

Prayer & Fasting Prayer Requests

Below are the prayer requests we emailed out everyday for our 40 days of prayer and fasting:

Day 1

Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain. 
Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. Psalm 127:1

Pray that the Lord would continue to be the Master Builder of Grace Babies’ Home and that He would continue to watch over the home.

Day 2

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8

Pray that the Lord would raise up consistent, monthly financial partners to support the ongoing, daily operations of the home. That GBH would be blessed abundantly, so that in all things and at all times we have all that we need.

Day 3

The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. Proverbs 21:1

Pray that the Lord would continue to give GBH favor with the Mexican government and Social Services.

Day 4

Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior.
2 Timothy 2:15-16

Pray for workers who are approved by God. Pray that the Lord would call his hard workers to GBH and direct their paths to get here. Pray that they would be good workers who are mature in their faith and are able to rightly divide the word of truth.

Day 5

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:2-3

Pray for humility, gentleness and patience among the staff and missionaries at GBH. Pray for unity of the Spirit and a bond of peace.

Day 6

And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested. 1Chronicles 4:10

Pray that the God of Israel would bless Grace Babies’ Home. There is a piece of land next to the home that would be extremely beneficial to the functionality of the ministry. Pray that the Lord would enlarge our territory to include that land. Pray that God's hand would be with us, and that GBH would be kept from evil.

Day 7

He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Psalm 91:4

Pray for the babies that the Lord has already chosen to come to GBH. Pray that the Lord would cover them with his feathers and shelter them with his wings. Pray that the babies’ armor and protection would be the faithful promises of our God.

Day 8

Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, because of Your enemies, that You may silence the enemy and the avenger. Psalm 8:2

Pray that the Lord would ordain strength out of the mouths of the babies at GBH, silencing enemies and all who oppose Him.

Day 9

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. Psalm 68:5

Pray that the Lord in his holy dwelling would be a father to the fatherless that come live at GBH and a defender of widows.

Day 10

He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Isaiah 40:29

Pray that the Lord would give power and strength to the babies He brings to Grace Babies’ Home.

Day 11

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5

Pray for the babies, that though weeping may endure for a night, that joy will come in the morning.

Day 12

He ensures that orphans and widows receive justice. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing. Deuteronomy 10:18

Pray that the Lord ensures that our babies receive justice and that He would show love to the foreigners living among them.

Day 13

And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. Luke 2:52

Just as Jesus grew and matured while He lived on Earth, pray that our babies also grow physically in stature, mentally in wisdom, and spiritually in favor with God and man.

Day 14

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, and that my soul knows very well. Psalm 139:14

Pray that our babies would know the security that comes with understanding that they are fearfully and wonderfully made. Pray that what their soul knows very well causes them to live a life of praise.

Day 15

And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:6-9

Pray that all staff and volunteers at Grace Babies' Home would diligently teach God’s words in the home, on walks, at bedtime and in the morning. Pray that volunteers and staff would live out His words as an example for the babies. Pray that His words be written on the doorposts and gates to GBH.

Day 16

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 1John 4:18

Pray for our babies that the perfect love of Jesus Christ would cast out all their fears.

Day 17

And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. Ephesians 3:18

Pray that our babies have the power to understand the width, length, height and depth of God’s love for them.

Day 18

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Mark 12:30

Pray that our babies would grow to love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength.

Day 19

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:13-17

Pray that as we dress our babies physically everyday, we would be careful to dress them spiritually as well. That they would be dressed with the waist belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. All of this so that our babies may be able to stand their ground when the day of evil comes.

Day 20

I am the Lord, who heals you. Exodus 15:26

Ask the Lord who heals for his divine healing for any babies coming with emotional or physical health issues.

Day 21

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Please pray that our babies would accept Christ as their savior at an early age and live their lives to glorify Him.

Day 22

Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Psalm 119:11

Pray that the Word of God would be hidden in our babies’ hearts, that they might not sin against Him.

Day 23

“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry. Ephesians 4:26

Pray that any sinful patterns of anger and wrath would be broken in the lives of our babies, and that through the power of the cross they would not sin in anger.

Day 24

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12

Pray that our babies would be clothed daily with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Day 25

The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? 
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

Pray that the Lord would be light and salvation to our babies. Pray that they fear no one, as the Lord is the stronghold of their lives.

Day 26

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers. Psalm 1:1-3

Pray that our babies never walk with the wicked, stand with sinners or sit with mockers. Pray that our babies grow to delight in the law of the Lord and that they learn to meditate on it day and night. Pray that they grow like trees planted by streams of water which yield fruit in season and whose leaves do not wither. Pray that whatever they do prospers.

Day 27

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1:6

Pray that God, who began a good work within our babies, will continue his work until it is finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Day 28

So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12

Pray that the Lord teaches our babies to number their days in order that they would gain a heart of wisdom.

Day 29

Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Philippians 4:8

Pray that as our babies grow, they would learn to think on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy.

Day 30

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

Pray that the Lord's plans for our babies would be to prosper them, to give them a hope and a future and to not allow them to be harmed.

Day 31

You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Psalm 139:5

Pray that the Lord would hedge all of Grace Babies’ home behind and before, and that He would lay His hand upon the home, the staff, and the babies.

Day 32

My sons, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you. Proverbs 3:1-2


Pray that our babies would not forget God’s law, but that their hearts would keep His commands so that they will experience long, peaceful lives.

Day 33

People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy. Proverbs 28:13

Pray that our babies would never conceal their sins. Pray that they learn at an early age to confess their sins to their Savior and turn from them so that they can receive mercy and prosper.

Day 34

Open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me. Acts 26:18

Pray that the Lord would open our babies’ eyes and turn them from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God, so that they will receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Him. 

Day 35

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. Romans 1:16

Pray that our babies would never be ashamed of the gospel, and that they would understand that it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.

Day 36

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16

Pray that our babies live very carefully; that they would be wise and make the most of every opportunity.

Day 37

I will set nothing wicked before my eyes… A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will not know wickedness. Psalm 101:3-4

Pray that our babies will set nothing wicked before their eyes. Pray that a perverse heart departs from them and that they know no wickedness.

Day 38

For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:2-3

Pray that our babies will consider Him who endured the cross and scorned its shame so that they will not grow weary or lose heart.

Day 39

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16

Pray that GBH would be a light on a hill that cannot be hidden. Pray that it would give light to everyone in the house. Pray that the light of GBH would shine before others that they would see our good deeds and glorify our Father in heaven.

Day 40

“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!” Luke 24:5

We can’t thank you enough for the prayers you’ve offered on behalf of our future babies and the ministry of Grace Babies’ Home over the last 40 days. We trust that your prayers have been heard and that in His perfect time, they will be answered.

Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Romans 8:34

It is a comfort to know that our Risen Lord, seated at God’s right hand, continues to plead and make intercession for us.

Have a blessed Easter!

Pressing On

This week we made a great deal of progress on several fronts. First, thanks to faithful GCH volunteer, Jerry Canning, we were able to finish the septic system by installing the last of the drain fields. Also, we had our dear friend and electrician, Chris Mellor, here to connect the building to the main power coming from the street and activate a few circuits upstairs. Tim Whitcomb from the Horizon team that was here last week returned to finish painting the kitchen cabinet doors for the upstairs residence. Lastly, we were blessed by the return of Denny Foster and friends from Huntington Beach who spent the weekend building and painting the railing for the second floor patio and helping with various kitchen and bathroom projects.

CALL TO ACTION

PRAY - Pray that the Lord would continue to send workers to keep things going.

SHARE - Many faithful servants who have volunteered here have taken their experience at GBH and shared it with their home church. Would you be willing to do that?

GIVE - Rather than give financially, please take a moment or two and read through the daily prayer requests from our 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting and pray them to our Lord.

Answered Prayers

The last few weeks have been busy and many prayers have been answered with regard to Grace Babies’ Home. The stucco phase of the project is finished and the building is now fully protected from the elements. We were visited yesterday by Horizon Christian Fellowship who kept busy painting, drywalling, cleaning, organizing, and fixing. They also installed vanities, toilets and ceiling fans in the upstairs residence as well as helped a dear friend and helper Marvin Weiss. Marvin and his family were here for 5 days and he built all the drawers and cabinet doors for the upstairs kitchen. Marvin is an accomplished wood worker and was invaluable in helping move the kitchen a giant step closer to completion.

CALL TO ACTION

PRAY - That God would send more teams to come and work on the Baby Home and fill the empty spaces in May on our team calendar.

SHARE - Would you consider organizing a trip with your friends and family to come and serve at Grace Babies’ Home. E-mail juan@josh2415.org for more details.

GIVE - Have you considered giving up something and donating the cost to Grace Babies’ Home? Click here. to learn more about our 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting for GBH.

GCI Returns

This weekend we were blessed to have Grace Chapel of Indio back to work on the Baby Home. Three bathroom floors and one shower were tiled, the upstairs apartment was textured, and the paint in the upstairs residence was completed. Also, all of the eaves and fascia around the building were painted. The sound proof flooring was installed in half of the upstairs apartment and much of the kitchen in the upstairs residence was worked on.

CALL TO ACTION

PRAY - Please pray for the weather as the exterior color coat of stucco is scheduled to begin on Thursday. We need clear skies for at least three days.

SHARE - Invite a friend to check out the blog and learn about the 40 days of prayer and fasting that we are currently in the midst of. Click here to learn more.

GIVE - During the 40 day fast we are asking you to pray specifically for Grace Babies’ Home and also pray about giving up something everyday and donating the cost of that item to Grace Babies’ Home.