I am part of a bible study group with some good friends. We started out taking Lay Ministry classes together and we have decided to continue our gatherings apart from our classes. In our last class we read a book called “Power Surge” by Michael Foss.

The premise of the books is that there are six ways that you can change from being a church member to a disciple in the way that Jesus wants us to live. ... more

So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:6, NIV)

This has been a week of confronting and conquering fears, here at Casa Stro. Awhile back I mentioned that my kids would be swimming this summer as a tribute to their birth mom. I also mentioned that my biological child does not like water. In fact, he's terrified of the pool.

Monday was... more

Would you take time to think about the full armor of God on Memorial Day? First, think about the soldiers protecting freedom all over the world. Pray that the soldiers and their families would gird themselves with the full armor of God to resist the obvious temptations that plague lonely adults. Pray that their children, missing one or both parents, would look to the heavenly Father for comfort in their time of need. Pray for the safety of the soldiers who are protecting freedom so that you may celebrate, read, write, and practice your faith.

Think... more

As a corollary to yesterday’s post about the Game of Life, I am reminded of a parable of Jesus:

Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, saying, "In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man. “There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, 'Give me legal protection from my opponent.' For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he... more

Today was a beautiful day. It finally felt like spring. The temperature was in the 60s, there was only a slight breeze, and the sun was shining. Everyone in our family has been sick for nearly an entire whole month so I encouraged everyone to spend time outside getting fresh air and sunshine. I took the opportunity to clean out our van and my mail delivery car while our toddler, Ami, played with her shopping cart nearby. A 15-passenger van carrying eight children around all winter can get pretty disgusting. I rarely visit the back two bench seats and for good reason. I shoved my... more

Luke 24:2-6a (NIV)

They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them… “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!”

Why do my husband and I continue to provide a foster home for older children? We serve a risen savior who asks us to provide for orphans and widows in their distress. (James 1:27) Yes, we could... more

My oldest, for as long as I can remember, spontaneously bursts into prayer when he sees an ambulance or police car. He will invoke God and ask Him to watch over the person in the ambulance or ask that the person pulled over by the police car will make better and wiser choices.

Now, with our two newest children in tow, they will do whatever their “Big Bubbie” does, and now they break out in prayer whenever they see an ambulance or police car!

It’s uncanny how alike the children are. There is no way they could know that when my oldest was younger (around... more

My dear friends Ron and Lisa both broke their backs two weeks ago in a vehicular accident with eight of their children. We have so much in common that we naturally became friends after meeting ten years ago. They have adopted 10 children, they homeschool, they regularly attend church, and their older children attended AWANA. I asked you to pray for them two weeks ago when I didn’t have much information about their injuries. They are both currently wearing their molded plastic torso casts, which are not very comfortable. (I speak from experience because I wore one for... more

Last Saturday I sent out an urgent plea for prayer partners for a special adoptive family. The entire family, other than adult children, was involved in an accident resulting in both parents having broken backs. The nine children, riding in the 15-passenger van, only suffered minor cuts and bruises. Many of you joined me in special prayer for them and some of you even took the request to your fellow prayer warriors so I wanted to give you an update.

The parents, Lisa and Ron, were released from the hospital in Pennsylvania on Monday. Their relatives brought them back... more

Friends in adoption, I am writing urgently to you, coveting your prayers for a fellow adoptive family. Previously, I have written blogs about a special adoptive family whom I love. They adopted two boys as newborns with Down syndrome through private paid adoptions. The boys are now five and six years old. Prior to those adoptions, they had adopted a sibling group of five children through the foster care system in our county. Last year they adopted four-year-old autistic twins from Oregon, whom I begged them to adopt. The twins have been in their home for just over a year.... more