Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Foster Care & Sex Trafficking

Our house is full of activity and great joy.  Johnny & Julie have arrived for a couple weeks for Christmas.  There are beach towels strewn from the icy cold pool to the house, the dog is on the trampoline with the kids, there are loud footsteps over-top the house as the kids play on the rooftop deck, lingering conversations at the dinner table, yummy smells of the kid's favorite foods filling the house, soon-to-be Christmas baking - life is rich!  I'm sure I will post a few pictures in the days ahead.  We are thankful for eight years ago opening our lives to a little boy half dressed eating out of a cold spaghettiO's can and a little shy girl with blond straggly hair carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders.  Here is a blog post I wrote for XP Missions this December.

I remember the day very clearly. I was listening to missionary Heidi Baker on the CD player, and I was talking to Jesus about what love looks like. I felt like the Lord said, “Will you take Breanna into your home”? I was taken aback, as my kids were young, my marriage was rocky, and I did not know how to bring another child into my life; but how could I say anything but “YES” to Jesus? I had a beautiful home and space for one more child. Little did I know then, that with Breanna would come two siblings, and that our lives would be changed forever
Many people are asking the question; “What can I do to help in the abolition of sex trafficking, our modern day slavery?” I would like to make a suggestion. If you have a loving home environment, free from emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, consider opening your life up to a foster-care child.
Children are being trafficked in the U.S. by their parents, uncles and aunts, and adults that are supposed to be “safe” in their lives. If the trafficking is found out, they are taken out of their home and put in the foster care system, which, in the U.S., is often broken. Some children in foster care are being trafficked by their caregivers. Something has to change!
Senator Rob Portman states, “There was a sting operation back in 2013 that the FBI did nationwide on child sex-trafficking, an issue that I’ve worked on a lot…Here is the amazing and very sad statistic in that — 60 percent of the victims that they recovered nationwide, from over 70 cities, were from foster care or group homes.” 
I remember these city stings when I lived in Vancouver, Washington. I would sit in on our police department training and hear of the stings about to take place. We would celebrate the kids that were rescued, but they would go right back into foster homes, and if they got a bad one, they could go back to being trafficked.
In the words of the nonprofit,  CityLimits“When children feel that no one cares about them, and are moved from one placement to another, craving attention and stability, [they] can easily find themselves seduced by traffickers who initially make them feel cared for, only to find themselves used for financial gain. Many children in foster care have been previously abused, putting them further at risk. In addition, children who are placed into foster care as adolescents are automatically placed into group homes, since foster parents generally are only willing to take young children. In fact, traffickers will often send one of their girls into group homes to find girls and urge them to leave by saying things like ‘[you] will be well taken care of financially and have a “family”’, so to speak, ‘who will care for [you].’”
The Polaris Project reports that in 2015, an estimated 1 out of 5 endangered runaways reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children were likely child sex trafficking victims. Of those, 74% were in the care of social services or foster care when they ran away.
This is a serious situation and eight years ago I felt I had to do something. I was a stay-at-home mom, raising my young family, and asking God what I could do about this horrific injustice.
Breanna was my daughter’s friend since kindergarten.  When she arrived in our lives, she was six years old (she is now 14). She was full of energy, had a skinny toothpick body, hair dull from malnutrition and she would light up a room with her excitement and her contagious smile. When she came for a visit, the house looked like a tornado had smashed through it. Some people go to a party – Breanna was the party!
After my husband and I said “yes”, Breanna, and her sister and brother, began to spend more and more time in our home. Their home situation put them highly “at-risk”, and some days they would be with us for over half a week before their mom would be ready to have them back.
I remember it clearly, I had just been at a Patricia Kings “Women on the Frontlines” in Phoenix, and as my plane landed, I knew I needed to check in on the kids on my way home.
I pulled up to their apartment and found the girls inside and mom gone – she had been put in jail. I offered to take the girls home with me until she was released.  This “checking-in” ended up resulting in the girls being placed with us as a “suitable placement” with social services, and only days later their brother being placed with us as well.
Breanna was adopted out of our home into a Christian home and her name changed. She is a beautiful teen, attending Christian school, enjoying her church youth group and family. We still correspond with her and occasionally get to see her when we are in Washington. Breanna’s sister and brother, J & J, have been in and out of our lives for the last eight years. After being removed from their mother, they went to live with their biological dad. We have been their suitable placement, their foster parents, their temporary guardians, etc.  They usually spend some of spring break, summer and Christmas with us unless there is a “situation” that places them back in our home full time. 
Foster care is rough. There are sleepless nights, drama with merging family units together and a clash of completely different values and culture. Also there is working with parents who sometimes will do what it takes to get their kids back and other times will not.
For us, being foster parents has been so worth it! My husband and I, along with our two biological kids are in love with J & J. My kids can hardly sleep at night when their plane is scheduled to land the next morning. Recently, our foster daughter began to call us mom and dad. I thought my heart was going to explode. She also writes us cards of thanks for taking her in (see photo) and what we have done for her over the years. For mother’s day this year, she made me coasters that listed my attributes that she loves (see photo).  Needless to say, I was wrecked!
Foster care needs a complete overhaul (that would be another blog post) but what can we do right now to be an answer? The foster care system in America needs loving families that will not allow kids to be abused, neglected or trafficked. If God has placed it on your heart to be a foster or adoptive parent, His voice is urging you, and you know that the environment of your home would nurture, love and be safe (and all in the home are in unity with this vision), then consider being an answer to over 400,000 kids in America who need a home.  Of course this is just one of many ways to get involved, but if you need a nudge in this direction – take this nudge and jump into the deep end. God is faithful. His grace is sufficient for you to be all that He created you to be for these kids who need love, freedom from trauma, hope, and a safe place to call home.
Written by:  Nita Weldon

Friday, December 16, 2016

Hope for the Future: Power for the Present

I am a guest blogger on the XP Mission site about once a month.   I love a platform where I can build awareness about sex trafficking and share some of my journey.  If you would like to follow what XP Missions is doing here is the link:  http://www.xpmissions.com/  I am so excited at all that XP has done this past year in Cambodia . . . women and children rescued out of being trafficked, hot meals for kids, education program sponsoring kids to go to school, house of prayer started, medical care, kids club, rice distribution, entrepreneurial outlets, the list goes on and on.  Such a small handful of people, but making such a huge impact on a nation!  Like I always say, it only takes a spark to get a fire going!  I remember when I was in Cambodia, I asked our Director about some of the kids we saw on the streets and the rescue plan for them.  She became thoughtful and said if they could only sell  more handbags (http://www.xpmissions.com/everlasting-love/), they would rescue more girls and kids.  Sobering.  If you are looking for a place to give year-end that has an excellent return, look no further, XP Missions is an excellent outlet:  http://www.xpmissions.com/get-involved/

This is a blog post I wrote in November for XP Missions.  I thought some of you may not be on FB (where I posted it) and so I thought I would share it today.  I will have another blog coming out next week and will try to post it on my personal blog site as well.

1My GPS was alerting me to turn left into the high school parking lot, but I was confused. In front of me was a police car with lights and what looked like a guard station. As I pulled into the lot a uniformed woman began to wave at me to stop. She came to the window and asked me my name and where I was going. I gave her my name and told her I would be helping with a presentation on sex trafficking in the auditorium. I couldn’t help but wonder if she was going to frisk me next, but she waved me through. It was as if I had just crossed the border or entered into a prison yard, but this is just how it is at some of our public schools in America.
I found my way onto campus and to the auditorium. I greeted my teammate, and started up a conversation with a coach who was waiting by the girl’s restroom. This coach was monitoring the girls who entered the restroom and when she stepped away for a minute, a teen approached me and asked if she could use the restroom.  I said, “sure” but was super curious as to what “system” was in place. Upon entering the auditorium there were teachers spread throughout as kids were finding their seats, but one person caught my attention. She had a military style stance, and large radio gear attached to the side of her pants which was going off randomly. She was on high alert and commanding kids to find a seat quickly, instructing for cell phones to be put away, etc.2
I sat in the back row surrounded by high school teens, cell phones out, headphones on, jostling and goofing off as they entered the auditorium. Sadly, in that auditorium, there could be sex traffickers. Teens trafficking teens. Today these kids were all going to sit through a presentation on the potential dangers of the internet and sex trafficking. They came in all shapes and sizes, all nationalities and dispositions, but they were ours to influence for the next 45 minutes.
3In the United States an estimated 100,000 – 300,000 kids are trafficked. Many of the kids who are sexually victimized or trafficked in the U.S. come from foster homes or are on the streets as runaways. These young people often flee abuse and violence at home, but then become victims of sexual exploitation on the streets or in care homes. Experts have reported that within 48 hours of running away, an adolescent is likely to be approached by a trafficker. These are kids sitting in our schools, in our malls, in our churches, in our parks, bowling alleys, and bus stations.
Sex Trafficking is not just happening in other countries but is happening in our backyard. Some children are being sold by their parents right out of their homes. They will go to school during the week and then will often miss Friday school as they are being trafficked on weekends by their own family members only to return to school on Monday, exhausted, battered and unnoticed. Kids from at-risk lifestyles are being targeted by “spotters” and then “groomed” to be handed off to a trafficker once they are ready. The process is much like the recent movie, Hunger Games. 4
The other day my 14 year old daughter had a dream. She dreamt that the Hunger Games had come to America. If you have not seen the movies, or read the books, The Hunger Games is a dystopian novel/movie about a 16 year old girl who lives in a future, post-apocalyptic nation in North America. The Hunger Games is an annual event in which one boy and girl aged 12-18 from each of the twelve districts surrounding the Capitol are selected by lottery to compete in a televised battle (like reality TV), hunting each other to the death.
Sadly my daughter’s dream and this fictitious movie are more of a reality than we realize in our nation and the nations of the world. Our women and children are being hunted. They are being watched, stalked, kidnapped and groomed on the internet and on the streets of today.
At XP Missions, we educate on prevention, we rescue and we provide after-care.  When a child/teen is educated on the dangers of the internet and sex trafficking there is a much greater probability that they will recognize the “Hunger Game” directed towards them. If a child can be told this is not their normal and given a “new normal” that values life and instills significance, they will begin to think outside the cycle they are in.
One of the biggest factors that pulls a person away from a Predator is HOPE. We all can be hope carriers.
“Your hopelessness about a problem is a bigger problem than the problem.” ~ Bill Johnson
5Hope arouses vision and spurs us toward actions. Hope invites us to see, to pray, to give, to serve, and to be a voice in the battle against this modern day slavery of trafficking.
As I sat in the auditorium surrounded by teens, I prayed for God’s truth to capture their hearts and the message to be heard. It only takes a seed of hope for a child sitting there to be pulled out of exploitation and rescued. It could inspire another child to take on the cause and become an abolitionist. It could cause another to value themselves and others and to break cycles of abuse. 
“Where there’s no HOPE for the future there is no power for the present. The more vision we have for the future, the more power we will have for the present.” ~Steve Backlund 
Written by: Nita Weldon

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Ephesians 6


I was reading in Ephesians six this morning and penned a little declaration for myself and thought I would go ahead and share it with you . . .

I am destined for all things and will rise victorious!  I receive truth into every thought and attitude today that will strengthen me in heavenly perspective.  I put on Holiness like a garment.  I am reconciled to Christ and presented Holy in His sight without blemish and free from accusation. I am God’s chosen one, Holy and dearly loved.   I stand steadfast inside the Lord and His power and ability.  I stand in authority. I stand firm in the faith and am courageous and strong.   I stand in alertness.  I stand against the illegal trespass of the enemy and resist him in Jesus name.  I receive peace as I subdue my enemy. I receive the peace of God which transcends all understanding and receive it’s guard over my heart and mind in Jesus. For He will keep in perfect peace my mind as it is stayed/fixed on Him.  I receive the faith of the Lord Jesus, shielding me from unbelief and lies.  Like a helmet on my head, I embrace the power of salvation’s full deliverance, taking every thought captive and bringing it under obedience to the mind of Christ.  And I release the word of God like a razor sharp sword – “No weapon formed against me will prosper, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, if God is for me, who can be against me!”.  I am positioned in the armor and authority of my King.  

Thursday, November 24, 2016

Happy Thanksgiving


Happy Thanksgiving Blogger Friends!  This is my thanksgiving scripture for this year . . .

"He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle.  Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for mankind, for He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things." 
~ Psalm 107:7-9

I'm amazed in this last week at how many people in my life are moving.  Moving into new seasons of life.  Isn't it a comfort to know that when we are in "transition" God leads us by a straight way.  I'm so very thankful that God satisfies and fills the hungry with good things.  Do you ever feel restless, anxious, confused or have unmet longings etc. and you get alone with God and begin to worship, meditate/ pray and all at once you become satiated.  You feel satisfied.  Psalms 81 talks about opening your mouth and God will fill it.  My soul often feels like a "mouth" and it just needs to be filled.  I'm so thankful that I have an incredible God who fills me . . .

Oh God, we give you thanks today, for your love that does not end and your wonderful deeds!  Thank you for leading us by a straight way.  Thank you that you are not crooked and confusing, but your way is perfect and straight.  Thank you that you provide a broad path so that our ankles do not turn and we do not slip (Psalm 18).  Thank you that you keep us from falling and present us before your glorious presence without fault and great joy (Jude).  Thank you that you have made known to us the paths of life and fill us with joy in your presence (Psalm 16).  Thank you that you satisfy the thirsty and fill the hungry with good things. Today, as we give thanks, may you fill our mouths and the depths of our souls with YOU.  Thank you for satisfying those thirsty, barren places with the water of your Spirit.  Thank you for filling those hungry places in us with contentment, peace and joy.  We love you.  You are an incredible God and we honor and give thanks to you, today! 

Saturday, November 19, 2016

His Way Is Perfect

"As for God, His way is perfect; 
The Lord's word is flawless; 
He shields all who take refuge in Him."  
~ Psalm 18:30

This was my verse for the day yesterday.  I spoke it, sang it and camped on it.  There is so  much in this scripture that spoke to me, but I would like to ponder the words, "As for God, His way is Perfect!"

One of my favorite verses is Isaiah 48:17 "This is what the Lord says, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; 'I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.'"  My prayer partners hear me pray this regularly, that God would lead and do what is BEST for the situation/person at hand.  But today I was pondering Psalms 18 and the words "As for God, His way is Perfect".  I was dealing with a circumstance and lots of variables involved that needed the perfection of God released into it.  I found such comfort in knowing that God - the creator and Lord of all, has a way that is PERFECT.  It's not just good or okay, but it's PERFECT. And as his daughter, I can ask for that way that is Perfect . . .

"He is the Rock, His works are Perfect, and all His ways are just.  A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He." ~ Deuteronomy 32:4

This gives me great comfort as I pray into paths that lie ahead, that there is a perfect way that God wants to reveal and lead His kids into.  I pray today for those who read this blog that your mind would be transformed and you would be able to to know and walk in God's way that is PERFECT.

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and PERFECT will."  
~ Romans 12:2

Friday, November 18, 2016

Happy Car Rides

Happy Weekend ~ my Blogger Friends!  Here I am with my kids - a little gimps into my world.  I drive my kids an average of 2.5 hours a day back and forth to their charter schools.  It's the joys of living on a desert oasis.  Some days with other commitments, I can easily be in the car for 4 -5 hours.  Crazy!  I have learned to make the most of the time and I talk to my friends on the phone or to Jesus (pray).
One of my very favorite things about  my week is my  morning drive with the kids.  We all drive it together as a family and my husband starts work after returning home.  When we are not carpooling other children, we use the time to pray for the day, read a prayer declaration over our lives, pray for our region/schools/nation, etc.  Then if there is extra time left, we do a short read.  Currently we are reading together Lee Strobel's "Case for Christ" an apologetic's study for kids.  Then after we drop the kids off, my husband and I use the time to pray together.  Super RICH! We guard this time like gold.

The first of the school year, I was struggling with finding time to train my children in the things of God and Godly character.  I was finding that as the kids are growing and entering into high school, family devotions before bed was not really working out so well anymore.   When I asked Holy Spirit how we could make time, I instantly heard "use the time in your car in the morning".  Love it!!  We have used our car time for the last year for family prayer, but now that our drive is about 15 minutes longer I have time to add a short study.

I hope, if you are a parent of children, and looking for practical ways to release the Kingdom of God into your kids lives - this blog will encourage you.  I find God is super practical - and that's how my brain functions.  I need practical!! And God has always been faithful to navigate my time for what matters most.

If you are reading this and you don't know God - Lee Strobel has some great books that open up the science behind a Loving Creator.  Maybe you are a student and bombarded with an agenda that is anti creation - give Lee's books a read.  Happy Reading.  Happy Car Rides!  Happy Weekend! :-)

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

My Treasures Are Growing Up

Julie, Simeon, Johnny & Destiny
I have been away from blogging way too long . . . many times I have wanted to post a photo or write down some thoughts to share, but after the months ticked by, I did not know where to begin.  So, how about some beautiful pictures of my Treasures. One of my greatest joys in life is my kids.  They are all growing-up so fast and this summer I shot these casual photos of them.  Life is rich when we are all together - can't wait for J & J to join us again soon. Destiny is pushing into straight A's in school and keeps telling me that in a couple  months she will be FIFTEEN - then she waits for my reaction. :-0  I give her some drama so she knows that I think my baby is growing way too fast. :-)  Julie is playing volleyball and loving it and also cheerleading.  Johnny has been busy with friends - he's super social and spends lots of times outdoors.  Simeon loves his new school and friends and hopes to try-out for basketball after Christmas.
Destiny 14 Years Old

Julie 13 Years Old
Johnny 12 Years Old

Simeon 11 Years Old

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Cousin Time

Cousin Time
As  always, the Weldon's love cousin time.  This year, we will not be able to make our annual Wenger Camp out with all of my family.  We are sad and I am already going into withdrawal from missing my family. :-)  So, my brother eased the pain by sending his two boys for a visit this last week.  I think my nephews
The Boys Swim-Up Bar
and nieces are such incredible people and these two guys are no exception.  We enjoyed lots of swim time as it's so hot in Arizona right now.  I think the boys went through six cartons of juice in three days . . . it's just the beginning of those teen years.  :-)

My nephew's voice was so low and manly that I could not understand him half the time.  I remember when he and Destiny used to sit as toddlers on grandpa and grandma's porch swing and now . . .  the years go so fast!

As we knelt beside the boys and prayed over them before they left on the airplane today, I was touched by who God is in them.  I could see his attributes and character displayed through the gentle, strong, silly, fun young men they are becoming and I am moved.
Stealth Roof Hunters
 Sometimes I get so caught up in life I forget to enjoy the "moments" but the moments are indeed what I live for.  The "moments" I enjoyed this weekend were asking silly life questions and telling a few family memories, playing  ball in the pool and Auntie being killer defense over Judah :-), huge bowls of ice-cream with laughter before bed, teasing Joshua, cozy late night movies, the delight of Arizona Mexican food shared together around a common table and a lingering hug.  These are moments I live for that make life so much richer.

Sunday, June 26, 2016

Mordecai

For the last while I have been thinking about the Biblical character Mordecai from the book of Esther.  I love the book of Esther.  Early in childhood it became one of my favorite Bible stories and Queen Esther, one of my favorite characters.  I love to ponder the phrase, "for such a time as this" and think about the greatness inside of me, like that of Esther.  But in this last season, Esther has not been my focus but instead her Uncle Mordecai.

Cousins
This weekend my nephews are here and I am getting used to hearing the name, "Aunt Nita" again.  I have 17 nieces and nephews and adore them all!  Sometimes as family, we discuss if  husband and I die, where my children will go and if my brother's die where their children will go. My children seem to find comfort in the fact that if anything happens to me they will go to their grandparents and their grandparents will "adopt" them out to their Uncle's if needed.  This is indeed what happened to Queen Esther.  Her parents both died and she was adopted by her Uncle Mordecai.

In the last month + I have had the pleasure of sitting in the presence of some great "Mordecai's".  I will just be sitting, listening, minding my own business and all at once the Spirit of God will whisper in my ear that this person is a "Mordecai" and a deep reverence will come over me and I will be touched by the call of God on their life.  One of my friends is currently in the Middle East, ministering in a large refugee camp and putting on a fashion show with designer dressed for girls who have been
Middle East Love
violated by ISIS (we know this is no small mission as recently 19 girls were burned alive in cages for refusing to having sex with ISIS captors).  These dresses have prophetic prayers, decrees and symbolism upon them, like "Purity".  Then they adorn the girls with these dresses for a refugee fashion show and declare what God has said over these ladies.  But wait it gets better -  women who have been violated and rescued out of sex trafficking, made gifts to send to the Middle East and shared their testimonies of God's redemptive work in their lives. Wow!   My friend is a Mordecai.  In her personal life she has rescued babies and children from the hands of sex traffickers, and now is in the Middle East standing opposed to the spirit of Haman (ISIS) and is fighting for an entire people group and nation to be delivered and come into their destiny.

 You see, Mordecai was a great man!  He rescued the orphan, feared God, would not bow to the demonic spirit operating through Haman, was faithful and stewarded the call of God on his life, was incredibly humble, interceded to save the Jewish nation, and rose to greatness!

Some of the things that have made me stop and take notice of Mordecai are . . .

1.  Walked in True Religion - I think Mordecai understood what true religion was.  He carried out the Biblical admonition of "True Religion".
Ten Talents International

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."  ~ James 1:27

Mordecai looked after the orphan, Esther and feared God - kept himself from being polluted by the world system of his day.
Ten Talents International

2.  Stewarded the call of God on his life.  He was called to care for Esther and groom her for "such a time as this".  The Bible says that he daily walked back and forth near the courtyard of the harem to see how Esther was and what was happening in her life.  He did not just let Esther be taken into the King's palace and then abdicate his responsibility.  No, he followed through and "daily" would check in on her to see how she was doing, send her messages, etc.  There are Esther's who are called to incredible power and will save nations, but they need Mordecai's in their life to rescue them, love them, counsel them and disciple them into their call.

3.  He would not kneel or pay honor to Haman (Esther 3:2).  There was such a fear of God in Mordecai's life, where he cared more about what God said or felt than anyone else.  This kept him from bowing down to the wicked Haman.  A friend told me recently that she saw Haman in the Bible representing the same demonic spirit that ISIS rules with today.  I wholeheartedly agree!  The wicked, demonic spirit of genocide that ravishes through ISIS is trying to take out entire people groups and Believers in Christ BUT God is raising up Mordecai's in this hour, who do not fear ISIS or fear for their lives, but are going into the enemies camp "stealth".  God will release supernatural turnarounds for them.  Just like when Haman built the gallows to hang Mordecai on and then those exact gallows were the instrument of his death (Esther 7:10).

4.  Mordecai did not try to hide who he was.  Mordecai told the Royal
Officials at the King's gate that he was a Jew (Esther 3:4).  People did not have to guess where Mordecai's allegiance lay.  He was a devout follower of God and devoted to his people.   He did not fear what men would think of him or the ridicule he could receive if he divulged who he was, as an exiled Jew.  No, in the face of rejection, ridicule, and even possible death - he stood fearlessly in his identity. It's really hard to take down a spirit of Haman when you don't know who you are.   God is looking for Mordecia's in this hour who are rooted in Him and know who they are.  They are secure in their Identity as Sons and Daughters of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

5.  Humble Man (Esther 4:1) - Mordecai tore his robes, put on sackcloth and ashes, wailed loudly and bitterly and went into the city and as far as the King's gate with his wailing.  He also carried out all of Esther's instructions (Esther 4:17).  It takes a person of great character to be able to humble themselves in such an abasement such as Mordecai showing intense grief and distress.
 Mordecai also allowed the tables to be reversed and instead of giving instructions to Esther, he took them from her.  This was a humble man.  Not looking for power, position or platform.  He would do what it took to intercede for a nation, stand on behalf of change and see the tide turned.  And as a result, God raised him up (1 Peter 5:6).

6.  Positioned for Greatness (Esther 10) - Mordecai was promoted to second in rank to the king of the land and the Bible speaks in Esther 10:2 of the GREATNESS of Mordecai - one who cared for the welfare of others . . . True Religion (always carries us out of our comfort zone and into God's grace)!


Maybe some of you reading this blog post know a Mordecai.  Maybe some of you ARE a Mordecai.  God is grooming you or about to catapult you into greatness because there is a call on your life to save nations, people groups, end genocide, rescue orphans, change laws, not bow to ungodly perverse spirits, etc.  Let me admonish you, if you are a Mordecai,  "Go Low"!  Walk in humility, the fear of the Lord, true religion and allow God to promote you.  You are needed now!  The nations of the earth are groaning for
YOU, the Sons and Daughters of God to be revealed.  Begin to intercede for who and what God is putting on your heart.  Be free from a religious spirit that operate under the law and not true religion, that is close to the heart of God.  Find out what God loves and where His heart is beating and this will give you perspective for the call of God on your life.  You were made for Greatness!  God wants to put you in places of authority over nations like Joseph and Mordecai.  I say, Mordecai's arise for such a time as this - there are Esther's to be groomed, nations to be saved and kings need your wisdom!

Friday, June 24, 2016

Staycation


Love Language Posters
Ahhh!  Yes, I had a little of that eight letter word recently . . . VACATION!  We have been going solid for months, and needed a few days of down time.  So, we cleared our schedule, didn't answer our phones and had what our friends Dav & Laura call a "staycation".  We stayed in the area - actually very close to home - our guest house. :-) Ha!   We did not work and had quality family time. I often am asked if I just love living out in the country where it's so beautiful and enjoying my home - I usually answer "I would if I had time".  So, this past week, we made time.

 One of the things we did with the kids were personality/love language profiles  (Gary Chapman) and flag Pages (Mark Gungor).  It was super fun to discover our love languages and were surprised by some we thought we had that were
actually pretty low on the list.  Then we practiced serving each other with our top love language.  For Destiny, John and I, the  language that speaks love to us the most, is quality time, so a vacation together was prime - swimming in the moonlight and curled up watching movies till late at night - great quality time.  Simeon on the other hand was gifts and so we all rallied gifts that we found among our things to give him.  The gift bags included things like chap-stick, dollar bills, stones, pocket knife, etc.  He loved it!  :-)  At the end of our time "away", hubby John commented that he thought it was one of his favorite family times.  Smile ~ Sigh . . .

Saturday, June 4, 2016

Women on the Frontlines 2016

WOLF Registration Team
Partner Desk
Team Buddies
Women In Ministry - Team Elizabeth
This past weekend I served at Women on the Frontlines World Convention.  For years I have either web-casted the event, attended in person, or purchased the CD packs.  So, this year, it was very different being "inside" the event and serving.  I helped out with partners and  registration/events.  I missed a lot of the event due to helping guests but what I was able to take in was great as always.
Destiny & Nita Sharing
Patricia & Destiny
This year a highlight for me, was speaking at the event, a bit about what Destiny and I as mother daughter are doing in our community.  I shared about a non-profit I am working on starting (markedforgreatness.org) this fall and Destiny had the crowd in tears as she shared the simple ways she was listening to Jesus and reaching her community.  Then Patricia asked
Destiny to pray over the event - it was priceless - as she rocked the heart of God for the crowd!  Being on TV and in front of a viewing audience of thousands, I was amazed at Destiny's self confidence.  She was a natural. :-)

Our Cambodia Friends
Thank You Jesus For Your Healing!
Another super cool happening for me at the event was partnering with God for a wonderful healing for this lady pictured.  She was    obviously having a rough time standing (Fibromalgia) when I felt like Holy Spirit highlighted her and asked me to pray for her healing. He did the rest - she was healed and had both of us in tears!

Inspiration Key Necklace

And lastly, I was thrilled that Destiny was able to meet (on several occasions) one of our Heroes of the Faith, Heidi Baker.  She had a hotel room by ours and her and Destiny kept running into each other.  Destiny shared with her how she was such an inspiration to her and gave her a key necklace from "the giving keys" that stood for "Inspiration".    Heidi was so touched (or gracious) that she wore it that night to preach on stage.  They also prayed together on one of their meeting  - and Heidi's assistant took pictures.  Super sweet!  Destiny was so stoked to meet her.

Heidi & Destiny - true Women of Faith

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Do You Trust Me . . .

I've been asking my husband for some time now to write a Guest Blog Post
sharing with you a bit of his journey into freedom.  It's my joy to share with you some of his story in reference to my May 5th blog post:

http://www.nitaweldon.com/2016/05/arise.html


In my early 20's I had a prophetic word that the man who won my heart would have to be a man of Stature in the Kingdom of God.  I can say today, that John has become a true man of STATURE in the Kingdom.  This strong, quiet man is a King among men, with a Kingly anointing . . .


"Nita has written a powerful article about her walk through my sexual brokenness and sin in our marriage.  It is raw and not comfortable to read, particularly if you’ve walked a similar journey of cycles of addiction, shame, betrayal, anger, and unfaithfulness.  But, Jesus is our redeemer.  

I strongly urged Nita to write about her walk, even though she didn’t want to expose me and our family to the public attention the article might bring.  I feel that her story needs to be spoken because of the hope it offers, and the testimony of redemption that it holds.

This morning, as I again pondered how to write about my perspective of this walk, I happened to read in Mark 5:19, right after Jesus commanded a legion of demons to stop oppressing the man of the Gadarenes and delivered him from a life of shame. The man (understandably), just wanted to get in the boat with Jesus, and forget about his past life and community, and move on.  But Jesus responded to him:  “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”

As I read that this morning I realized that is what is in my heart about our story.  I may not like who I was, and the things I’ve done and said as I was under the oppression of sin and shame, and it would be so easy to move on and forget about that painful chapter in our lives.  The truth is, we are moving on, and we have left much of that pain in the past.  But, our story is full of redemption and hope.  God, who is limitless, has brought such healing and restoration that I have to tell how much the Lord has done for me, and how he has had mercy on me.


For Nita, the question Father God asked her was: “Do you love me?”, and His request of her was to love me, as I was unlovable.

For me, the question Father God asked was: “Do you trust me?”.  The oppression of sin, especially sexual sin, brings such shame and isolation that you want to cover up every hint of brokenness and never let anyone see the filth.  But the truth is freedom and healing only comes through confession and repentance.  Confession means to agree with God that my behavior and thoughts were wrong, and that they did not line up with who he created me to be.  Repentance means that I had to change the way I think.  James 5:16 is clear that confession has to do with other people, not just a private communication between God and I.

All healing in my life has come as a consequence of throwing myself on God’s mercy, and confessing my sin in front of other people in my life: my dad, other men in trusted friendships, and Nita.

I had to consciously choose, repeatedly, over the course of years, to trust God, humble myself, and confess when I sin.  It would feel so tidy and nice to say that it was a one time thing and now I’m all good, but the truth is it is an ongoing process.  Where sin abounds grace abounds much more.  From my earliest days of sexual sin and selfishness, God has unflaggingly provided me opportunity at every turn to surrender to him, and every time I did, he brought healing.  There was a long process made longer because I would continually give up ground that was gained.  And truthfully almost every time I backslid it would be further and harder than before.  Every time I fell I would get more discouraged and try to blame God for not “magically” healing me of the desire to sin.  And every time his invitation to me was ultimately: “will you trust Me?”.  

Like Peter walking on water, when I trust him there is healing and hope and I feel invincible, but when I take my eyes off of him and fear, or try to meet my needs myself through self gratification and sin, I sink.  But he is always holding out his hands to me, with the question: “why did you doubt?”

Our story is not over. There is so much to say about identity too as a son of God, and about belonging and the practicality of walking out of secret and addictive sin.  I believe God will continue his redemption in our lives, and we’ll go from strength to strength.  And I trust that Nita’s story, and my story will offer hope, and a testimony of God’s faithfulness and goodness.  No matter how hopeless our situation, He is our redeemer, and he makes all things new."

Monday, May 23, 2016

Eighth Grade Graduate





Our Destiny Hope is graduated from eighth grade!  She keeps asking me, "Mom! Do you realize I am a freshman?"   She knows that I am freaking out at her being in high school next year.  Okay, not really "freaking" but wishing I could pull back time.  Yet, totally touched by the young woman she is and is becoming.
I didn't realize that eighth grade grad was so important, but when Destiny wanted a new dress and shoes and we shopped at four - five different stores and then fell into the Swagger exhausted with no dress or shoes, I realized this is a big event!  
Thinking back - my eighth grade grade graduation was a pretty big deal too.  I
remember, since we did not have a lot of money, my mom often made my clothes for special events.  She had made me a lovely white dress with a sash.  My dad was on a cycling bike trip with a bunch of high schoolers (High School Bible Teacher) and my principal/staff called him home and made sure he was at my event because they thought it was a big deal.  I had been voted by the school student body and staff a prestigious award.

To our great joy, my niece, Petra (one of Destiny's Besties) is here for the weekend.  So, the girls both got ready for the event together.  I had a "hair curling" chair in my bathroom and we primped, curled and dazzled.  It's funny because Destiny does not like much fuss over her appearance.  She wears very little, if any, make-up and does not mess with her hair, so when she does, I'm not always sure what to do.  But by the end of it all, she looked absolutely lovely.  I always pretend to be seriously stern, and joke with my girls (especially Julie) that they can not wear something or do their hair a certain way because it makes them look way too old!  Like a teenager!  They love it!! :-)

















Destiny did wonderful with her class presentations, speech and the entire day.  We are so proud of her.  She is blossoming into such a beautiful young lady.  For her grad gift we got her a tree necklace she had been wanting and with it we wrote some words of affirmation over her embedded in one of her favorite scriptures ~ Psalms 1.  What a lovely daughter, growing like a tree planted by rivers of living water, roots going deep and bearing beautiful fruit.  That, for sure, is our Destiny Hope.


 "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 . . . For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous."  ~ Psalm 1